Rising complaints of Medical Negligence: AIIMS dept.
March 27, 2017Wrong treatment is the most common ground for individuals to complain about medical negligence, followed by absence of care, no treatment and forced discharge, a study by AIIMS forensic department has revealed.
The study includes interviews of families of 20 patients who died due to alleged negligence. While 13 cases included private hospitals, seven were from government ones, in and around South Delhi.
Dr Abhishek Yadav, who led the study, told TOI that allegations were found to be more common in age groups of children and adolescent (50%) with a declining trend with increase in age. "The super-specialty hospitals are held responsible of negligence in 65% cases," he added.
The allegation against the hospitals, both private and government, is in the proportion of 1.8:1, Yadav said. "Wrong treatment/technique was the prime reason (45%)," he added.
Recently, Delhi Medical Council deregistered two orthopaedic specialist for six months for operating the wrong leg of a 24-year-old man who was admitted at Fortis Hospital in Shalimar Bagh after fracturing his right foot.
The head of forensic sciences department, AIIMS, said frequency of alleged negligence has gone up drastically over the past few years. "People are more conscious about their rights. Also, recent court rulings in favour of the complainants where there is proven case of negligence has encouraged others to take up their grievances," he said.
AIIMS has recommended that doctors working in emergency and ICUs ought to be trained in declaring death of the patient to the relatives or a counsellor may be appointed for it.
Doctors said lack of communication between the doctors and patient is a major cause of discontent. "Doctors should abstain from making vague commitment of absolute recovery and should always explain the complication or unanticipated danger associated with the treatment technique," said a doctor at the institute.
The registrar of Delhi Medical Council, said they get 20-30 complaints of negligence every month. "The number has gone up remarkably in the precious couple of years," he said.
Patients often allege that doctors try to rescue each other even when the case is referred to medical boards for investigation.
The study includes interviews of families of 20 patients who died due to alleged negligence. While 13 cases included private hospitals, seven were from government ones, in and around South Delhi.
Dr Abhishek Yadav, who led the study, told TOI that allegations were found to be more common in age groups of children and adolescent (50%) with a declining trend with increase in age. "The super-specialty hospitals are held responsible of negligence in 65% cases," he added.
The allegation against the hospitals, both private and government, is in the proportion of 1.8:1, Yadav said. "Wrong treatment/technique was the prime reason (45%)," he added.
Recently, Delhi Medical Council deregistered two orthopaedic specialist for six months for operating the wrong leg of a 24-year-old man who was admitted at Fortis Hospital in Shalimar Bagh after fracturing his right foot.
The head of forensic sciences department, AIIMS, said frequency of alleged negligence has gone up drastically over the past few years. "People are more conscious about their rights. Also, recent court rulings in favour of the complainants where there is proven case of negligence has encouraged others to take up their grievances," he said.
AIIMS has recommended that doctors working in emergency and ICUs ought to be trained in declaring death of the patient to the relatives or a counsellor may be appointed for it.
Doctors said lack of communication between the doctors and patient is a major cause of discontent. "Doctors should abstain from making vague commitment of absolute recovery and should always explain the complication or unanticipated danger associated with the treatment technique," said a doctor at the institute.
The registrar of Delhi Medical Council, said they get 20-30 complaints of negligence every month. "The number has gone up remarkably in the precious couple of years," he said.
Patients often allege that doctors try to rescue each other even when the case is referred to medical boards for investigation.
OUR TAKE
No human being is perfect, therefore mistakes ought to happen. Medical Negligence is a breach of legal duty to care. At times it may result into serious consequences such as death. Hence, it is very important to pay attention towards the rights of the patient whenever such cases come up. Doctors must exercise the right course of treatment with utmost care and due diligence. Also the courts before making the doctor liable, must allow him to show that he used reasonable and ordinary care in the treatment of his patient to the best of his judgment.
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