Patient-doctor relations take a hit
Recent goof up in Delhi hospital has given rise to trust issues
The basis of a doctor-patient relationship is trust. But after the recent incident in which one of the twin babies was incorrectly declared dead by a doctor in New Delhi, patients are no longer sure if they can trust doctors.
Dr K.K. Aggarwal, president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), says, “Doctor-patient relationship has deteriorated due to such (Delhi) incidents. It is very important for medical professionals, members of healthcare industry, and hospitals to be compassionate towards patients. We have to introspect and implement certain changes to ensure that such mistakes do not occur.”
Some doctors believe that fault does not lie with medical professionals alone; patients are also known to behave in an unacceptable manner.
Dr R.N. Tandon, honorary secretary general of the IMA, says, “Doctors must be committed to practice medicine with humility. At the same time, people need to understand that the effect of a course of treatment depends on physical and organic factors.
“It is unacceptable and absurd to victimise medical professionals if a patient does not respond to treatment.”
The IMA has formulated an alert policy as a part of which they are counselling doctors and teaching them to acknowledge, listen and explain to, review with and thank patients.
An IMA Medical Redressal Commission will be set up at the state level to deal with issues related to such matters.
Eighty per cent of people in the country seeks medical treatment at private hospitals and expects the best quality of care.
The president of the IMA said, “There is too much pressure on private hospitals; often, patients arrive at the emergency section at the last minute. We are insisting that since emergency is a state subject, emergency cases must be dealt with at government hospitals only. People fail to understand the consequences and ultimately blame the doctor when something goes wrong.”
The IMA wants state governments to play an active role in providing adequate medical facilities in the private and government sectors.