Hyderabad: Following action by the Telangana Medical Council, an increasing number of doctors are now opting for defensive treatments wherein video consent and also detailed diagnostics are carried out before taking a decision on crucial surgeries. Video consent is being viewed as an extremely strong option. It was the crucial piece of evidence backing the procedure that was missing in the case of Mr Nikhil Reddy — the patient who had wanted a limb lengthening surgery and had followed up with Dr Chandra Bhushan for six months.
A senior orthopaedic surgeon from the city, on condition of anonymity said, “The doctor (Chandra Bhushan) had done nothing wrong medically. But due to a communication gap and also due to lack of evidence that the patient had consented to the surgery, the doctor is being targeted. Hence it is very important to ensure that this defensive practice of ensuring complete protection for doctors is in place since when patients are not happy they are turning on medical professionals stating that they have been wronged.”
While the action against nine doctors — who have been served a suspension notice by the Telangana Medical Council — is raising a lot of concern among the medical fraternity, it has also sent a message that they have to be alert and also pay attention to the needs of the patient. Senior general physician Dr K. Sunil Rao said, “The action of the Medical Council was needed as private practices have become business-oriented rather than patient-oriented. It is very important that the interests of the patients are kept in mind while treating them.”
With diagnostic tests becoming the fundamental method to find the cause of ailments, the action of the Council has further put doctors in a defensive mode, as they want to be doubly sure of diagnosis and other reports. A senior doctor said, “Taking action in a case where protocols have not been followed is correct. But nowadays patients get vindictive because they are being instigated. Such behaviour is going to make treating of patients very difficult, as the medical fraternity will end up spending more time and effort in ensuring that they do not go wrong and are not wrongly blamed. This is not in the interest of the patients.”
Compensation is a matter for courts
While the Telangana Medical Council has suspended nine doctors in the state, awarding compensation is not in the jurisdiction of the Council. Only the courts can decide that, the authorities have ruled. The Medical Council of India does not have the authority to decide on the monetary aspect, it can only check on the medical treatment procedures.
Dr Ravinder Reddy, chairman of the council said, “The ethics committee has given enough time to the doctors and also the patients and deliberated on the issue in detail before taking action. Cases of negligence were accounted against doctors and that’s why the action was taken.”
