May is World Mental Health Month and throughout this month I am talking wellness and Mental health though my scope as a woman doctor practicing in modern India .Remember I am an ENT surgeon not a mental health specialist and my experience as a medical doctor is not professional advice but for awareness and education.
I recently attended a CME by AIIMS Rajkot discussing medico legal issue for doctors in clinical practice.
It was insightful and a welcome step to ensuring confidence in the medical fraternity.I am hoping medical education going forward will empower doctors with the legal side of medical Practice
But there needs to be a transparent and weighted look into the laws protecting a doctors right to work and earn in India.
CME on Medico-Legal Issues in Clinical Practice by AIIMS Rajkot
If there’s one person other than the patient who wants the patient to get better,it’s the doctor.
We want patients to get better.Nothing beats word of mouth from a happy patient.But medicine is not an exact science even now.Plus every person is unique,their body,their mind,their reaction to environment and medicine ,compliance is unique.There is no way ,one size can fit all.In a world of customization and personalized care mass produced solutions won’t fit.In this scenario comes the added stress of litigation.A higher power determines the cycle of life.We are mere mortals.We can serve ,do our best but what happens is never in any one person’s hand.
But what happens when you refuse an unethical request for a medical certificate?What happens when Government health insurances for certain treatments need review due to various reasons?How do we ensure our concerns reach policy makers.
What happens when patients harass,bully and try to intimidate doctors ?
What recourse does a doctor have ?
How helpful are the laws ?
How helpful are the people upholding the laws ?
A society which doesn’t understand the value of life will run after cheaper options for healthcare while buying the latest gadget/branded phone to show off.
Education and healthcare needs a minimum of three things:
1.Money(someone somewhere is paying for it)Nothing is actually free.
2.Awareness:To understand and accept advice and follow through .Patient education
3.High Standard of Quality Care:Healthcare worker training(you need 1),Physical and mental health of Healthcare workers(excessive stress is a problem),Hospital infrastructure (1 needed).
You skip any one of these ,the proverbial apple cart falls .
Governments need to understand that there time will not be judged only by what they do now,but the effect of their action carrying onto the future.
According to Drugs and Magic Remedies Act, advertisements by doctors are prohibited in any media. The code of ethics laid down by Medical Council of India states that advertisements or promises of “guaranteed treatment” cannot be made by doctors.
But I see many alternative medications being advertised having magic solutions to age old problem.
So if guaranteed treatment is not possible ,why does the harassment against doctors continue ?
Unfortunate deaths are declared maltreatment, negligence without post mortem and due diligence.
The question arises ,can doctors work in an environment of fear and worry ?Harassment and abuse continues while
Physician suicide is on the rise.But a society racing towards entropy doesn’t really care.Or does it?Only time will tell.
The discrepancy is the standard of quality healthcare across states reflect a reality which people most at risk have no clue about.Or even if they do,they don’t care enough.
If they did, the abundance of addictive substances flooding the market would be strictly blocked.Look at the source of a problem and the solution will reveal itself.But if you refuse to acknowledge the problem and want to diffuse the issue ,then blame some one else.
Satyajit Ray A man before his times made Hirok Rajar Deshey a Gupi Gayen,Bagha Bayen movie.Go watch it, if you haven’t yet.
Updated 2024 September 12th:
The current heinous crime at RG Kar Medical college and Hospital shows a leadership dilemma