Carry on doctor, we are with you

 

The IMA is now asking the Center to protect doctors on duty and also the medical establishments against public outrage by bringing about an Act. Dr Shibaji Chattopadhyay, chief operating officer OO at Global Hospitals said, “Both the government and the healthcare sector need to work on two fronts, one is to create awareness among the people that diseases can be cured but does not necessarily mean that complications can be averted. Also, there is a need to bring about strong laws to protect healthcare providers and facilitators because abusing or breaking equipment is not the right approach.”

 

The latter has seen a major rise and many patients’ relatives resort to dharnas, arguments and even use political influence, which makes it very difficult. Dr Rajeev Chourey, chief hospital administrator at Care Hospitals said, “There is a strong need for doctors to spend time with patient’s relatives and counsel them about the disease, complications and the fatal consequences, if any. This clarity is required. There are often times when patient’s relatives have high hopes and when the outcome is negative, they get angry, abusive and often resort to violence. These require intervention by a government committee which will ensure that both doctor’s and patients’ interest are taken care of.”

 

There is also an increasing feeling among healthcare facilitators that there is a trust deficit building up in Indian patients. A senior doctor on condition of anonymity said, “A large number of patients come with a doubt that the battery of diagnostic tests prescribed by doctors are for making profit. This sense was not prevalent earlier. If there are facilities right now, it is to protect the patient. On the other hand, when tests are not done and treatment carried out there is a fear of being pulled up in consumer courts. In both the situations, it’s the medical practitioner who suffers.”