Hyderabad: Complaints by patients forced to buy medicines from in-house pharmacies, delayed and improper diagnosis and doctors going on leave after surgeries were some of the major issues in 2015, according to the 8th Annual Medico Legal Review held in the city.
Experts said that there had been a 400 per cent rise in the number of cases being filed against doctors, according to the estimates evaluated from 2006.
Dr Sunil Khetarpal, member of the annual medico-legal review said, “The number of cases is an indication that the doctor-patient relationship is at an all time low. At the same time, patients are aware of their rights and it becomes important for doctors to explain, counsel and also frankly tell them what their condition is.”
Maximum complaints were about surgeons going on leave after conducting planned surgeries due to which post-operative care suffered. Patients complained of negligence as their post-operative care was improper and they developed infections as the treating surgeon was not available.
Advocate Mahendra-kumar Bajpai who deals with medico-legal cases said, “Patients are now sensitive and they were very upset that their treating surgeon was not there and an assistant took care of them. Hence doctors need to communicate with patients. If they are planning a vacation then they can postpone a planned surgery as the patient can be asked to wait. Also, it was found that many surgeons do not want to lose their patient and for that reason they are not willing to refer patients to other surgeons or specialists. This is not right as the patient ends up losing precious time.”
Also, cases of improper and delayed diagnosis has seen a rise as patients are now referring to the Internet for understanding the nature of the disease. Also, government doctors referring patients to private hospitals has come under the scanner of the National Consumer Forum as a pregnant women was denied treatment in an Army
Hospital and referred to a private hospital. The court took a strict view of how the nurses and para-medical staff guided the patients to a private hospital and demanded that the government pay compensation to the patient.
Advocate B. Srinivasan said, "The court has set precedents where it has taken a stern view on how patients were denied their rights. At the same time, frivolous cases filed to not pay hospital fees have been dismissed and patients have been warned.”
