‘Strict laws won’t reduce conflict’

A well-coordinated communication system rather than stringent laws or penalties is the need of the hour, stated the team of researchers who recently studied the worsening doctorpatient relationship across India.

Published in the International Journal of Applied Research and Studies, the research was a joint effort between the faculties of Navsahyadri Education Society, Pune and Smt Laxmibai Radhakishan Toshniwal College Of Commerce, Akola.

In Maharashtra, more than 45 doctors and medical staffers have been subjected to violence by patient’s relatives in the last three years.

“Great transformations happen in social, technical and medical field, which dilute the relationship,” said Prof Divekar while focusing on the reasons for the failing doctor-patient relationship.

Diminishing concept of family doctors, emergence of specialty and multispeciality hospitals, age of information, well-informed patients and certain practices followed by doctors and patients alike are said to be the major causes for fuelling the deterioration of the relationship.

One of the major causes listed was the diminishing numbers of general practitioners (GPS) in the society, which earlier used to cater to a limited population. “These GPS, who looked after five or more villages, were taking ample time to discuss cases with the patients. The consultation involved a chat about the problems, medical examination, description of the diagnosis and a feedback from the patient. It was a win-win situation for the doctor and the patient alike, as they shared mutual understanding and trust.” the paper mentioned.

Experts added that this mutual connect vanished after the emergence of specialty and superspecialty hospitals. “Most of the specialised doctors collaborated with all possible hospitals, and started their own private practices simultaneously. As a result, specialised doctors didn’t have time to listen to their patients carefully,” said Prof Divekar and Dr Sukhdeve .