I think it would be logical and worthwhile to debunk ourselves of ,however tragically,the noble content that this profession used to be looked upon earlier.Even the doctors today are reluctant to accept this tag.I clearly remember going through an article authored by one of our local doctors writing in a widely ciculated Bengali daily and the doctor-turned doctor gave a completely new spin to it.He would go as far as calling it a 'societal conspiracy' to prevent the doctors from gaining financially by giving it a 'noble' badge! Just think of it! But it so happened that the first celebrated and well-documented case of medical negligence case which was bitterly fought at all hierarchies of Indian courts and finally decided at the the portal of our Apex court- Supreme Court was bewteen a doctor and and a group of doctors!

Very nice topic started by kalyani.. :)

No one can totally ignore that medical professionals are misusing their rights...it is not completely true that most of the medical professional are justifying their jobs..though some people are justifying, if their sub-ordinates do some errors are illegal activities..it is going to give bad reputation to the honest person too..However, if ethics are considered a doctor should treat honestly which is not happening now-a-days and is the main reason for deaths of patients..

Previously degrees were awarded on merit basics but now only a simple entrance test with some huge amount of money is deciding the future doctors to be...very pathetic situation indeed the system is completely changing and another fact is due to very less salaries in governement hospital the doctors are losing their ethics and doing this illegal activities. unnecessary treatment, intentionally wrong dignosis,selling of organs of patients etc..are all due to this...money has dominated life...life has no value now-a-days.. :(

Regarding punishment,yes if they have be proper evidence punishment should be given as in other devloped countries like USA..Then atleast fear can change this professionals..

chinmoymukherjee wrote:
[quote]There can't be an iota of doubt that the medical profession which along with other few was considered to be noble in anot- too-distant
past, has ceased to be so and degenerated into convenient tool for the most corrupt section to make a fast buck at the cost and lives of millions of suffering people of this country.Now wags say if a person has contracted any ailment,there are two war fronts opening for him or her.One is the battle against misery and sufferings caused by the ailment or disease itself and the other one is against all kinds sick tricks and stragems of the doctor to bleed financially! Hey friends! It's to time to remember the proverb:"Physicians heal thyself."[/quote]


I completely agree with the statement and also the proverb...but i think this situation is in high in India only..and again greediness and corruption are the main reasons...If we look at US or UK and other foreign countries medical professionals, we can understand the exact meaning of the word DOCTOR...they are highly dedicated to their profession. And the strict rules followed by the countries are the main reasons. Occasionally negligence may happen in extreme conditions due to many factors...but it is not as more as in our country...
:S

What Rajani maintains is absolutely correct.What it points to is the desirability of an efficient regulatory regime with appropriate regulatory powers to lay down norm of behaviour on the part of doctors and strict enforcement of them.It is not that we did not or do not have it.The Medical Council of India only exists in name it's more of a back-scratching council and its ex-Chairman was found to be stinkingly corrupt and now busy battling a CBI case!

RAJESH CHANDRA PANDEY wrote:
[quote]Yes, I agree that medical profession is being used as a tool to earn money.Mushrooming nursing homes every here and there are witness to this fact.Poor quality of diagnosis, below par cleanliness, lack of basic facilities, want of sense of duty among the staff, imposition of unwanted pathological tests on patients and ever increasing bills are some of the characteristics which define today's medical profession.
For negligence in treatment, a doctor should be definitely subjected to punishment but it must be remembered that doctors are also human beings and the severity of punishment must vary from case to case. Since this profession demands utmost seriousness, the onus of a doctor is more than those in other professions.[/quote]

As regards punishment in medical profession, I think there are two types of mistakes- (1) outright corruption or irregularities, cheating etc. that must be seriously viewed and drastic punishment given (2) Negligence and wrong treatment. In this category, honest error of judgment must not be punishable. A doctor is supposed to treat according to best of his skill and judgment. Punishment is warranted only if there is gross negligence of duty. It has to be acknowledged that there are divergent course of action everywhere. A doctor is supposed to take reasonable care depending on his skill and no more. Again, a doctor must know his limitation. If a patient requires specialized skill of another doctor, he must refer and not continue his treatment. Failure to refer to another expert when so required should also be punishable.

An honest mistake,I suppose, is outside the domain of our discussion.And what all we are concerned about the despicable malpractices which some of the members of this prodess resort to in the name of treating patients.It is pertinent to note when the doctors were brought under the perview of Consumer Protection Act,some medical associations and doctors displayed dichotomy of the worst kind by violently reacting to the attempt of the legislature to bring their noble profession at par with potato sellers! That was quite ridiculous to say the least! On the one hand they claim to be representing a noble profession on the other hand some of them indulging in practices which would even put a butcher to shame!A profession is as noble as its members make out of it!The matter reached the court and they eventually lost the argument.It's perfectly true that our medical people are as good as bad as the society makes them to be! It's equally true no profession has managed to remain unscathed in the growing materialistic culture in the world.But what has to be kept in mind the nature of a doctor's job is very different from that of others.Accountability has to be ensured and the guilty has be to meted out the severest of punishment to restore a semblance of respectablity that this profession enjoyed in the yester-years.

chinmoymukherjee wrote:
[quote]An honest mistake,I suppose, is outside the domain of our discussion.And what all we are concerned about the despicable malpractices which some of the members of this prodess resort to in the name of treating patients.It is pertinent to note when the doctors were brought under the perview of Consumer Protection Act,some medical associations and doctors displayed dichotomy of the worst kind by violently reacting to the attempt of the legislature to bring their noble profession at par with potato sellers! That was quite ridiculous to say the least! On the one hand they claim to be representing a noble profession on the other hand some of them indulging in practices which would even put a butcher to shame!A profession is as noble as its members make out of it!The matter reached the court and they eventually lost the argument.It's perfectly true that our medical people are as good as bad as the society makes them to be! It's equally true no profession has managed to remain unscathed in the growing materialistic culture in the world.But what has to be kept in mind the nature of a doctor's job is very different from that of others.Accountability has to be ensured and the guilty has be to meted out the severest of punishment to restore a semblance of respectablity that this profession enjoyed in the yester-years.[/quote]

Chinmoy- I referred to 'honest mistakes' in the context of punitive action against doctors guilty of negligence. Whenever a patient dies after an operation or other treatment, the family and relatives of the patient will blame the doctor even though he might have done his best. While malpractices must be cause of punishment, the doctors cannot be expected to give immunity against any damage or even death. Hence, doctors need protection when a mishap occurs despite reasonable care and proper treatment given to the best of ability of doctor.
I agree with rest of the views.

I think we're all in agreement that the medical profession is no longer the 'noble' profession it used to be. But just to get a dialogue running...

Do you think that imposing harsher punishments would further deteriorate the medical practice? Some form of corrective action is necessary, there is no doubt about that. But would doctors fail to conduct necessary tests because of the fear of the repercussions should the test be inconclusive? Take for example the procedure of filing a police report in the case of certain injuries. Doctors refuse to treat the patient until a police report is filed because, if they do, they could get into trouble with the police. The patient is no doubt the one suffering in all this, but it’s not entirely the doctor’s fault either…


[quote] Hence, doctors need protection when a mishap occurs despite reasonable care and proper treatment given to the best of ability of doctor.[/quote]


Doctors are given protection. All patients (or their next of kin) are made to sign a release form before any major surgery or medical procedure. This form effectively ensures that the doctor is not held liable for anything that might happen during the course of the procedure. It’s only in the case of negligence that the doctor can be held liable.

I agree with what Chinmoy has said.. The regulatory body is not very powerful and its highly corrupted.. I have seen and heard about few medical colleges getting permitted just with under table dealings.. It has become very much a business and a very highly profitable one.

Raja wrote:
[quote]I agree with what Chinmoy has said.. The regulatory body is not very powerful and its highly corrupted.. I have seen and heard about few medical colleges getting permitted just with under table dealings.. It has become very much a business and a very highly profitable one.[/quote]

The major cause of extreme corruption and irregularities in the medical profession is the high cost of education. Parents and students consider this as an investment that they must recover from patients by hook or crook. Education should be free for all eligible candidates. This should ensure that money does not play major role in the profession. Medical care is the basic right of all citizens and the poor must get quality medical treatment.
All doctors should be required to serve in rural area for some period. Presently, the patients suffer a lot owing to unholy nexus between doctors, drug stores, laboratories and hospitals. All these attempt to maximize their income
by fleecing patients. The Government Hospitals are supposed to give free medicines to patients who are required to give only token amount for registration. But the hospitals force them to buy from market and sell the hospital medicines in market. Owing to gross negligence and corruption in Government Hospitals, patients are required to go to private hospitals that are beyond reach of poor. The doctors in Govt. Hospital take more interest in private practice.
It is absolutely necessary to remove the malpractices in the medical profession on a very urgent basis.