Remember the days when news was news
Switching on the news channels is an extremely rare occasion in our household. It is painful to ears and a definite threat to sanity to watch the drama which is dished out in place of “news” these days. I wonder if Arnab Goswami would get a job as a news reader in any respectable TV station in any country other than india. There is total lack of professionalism in the news with who said what and whether a panellist is smiling or not taking a major portion of so called debates on vital national issues. Tata sky and others would be better advised to list these channels under “Entertainment” section.
High decibel demand was made by various panellists on yesterdays debates on TV channels to cancel the licenses of doctors as well as hospital for declaring a newborn foetus dead. No voice of sanity stood a chance to get across their view under the circumstances. There is no denying that giving the fetus in plastic bags was insensitive and inappropriate. However no death summary or certificate was issued. While the doctors were in process to complete formalities of death certification the staff nurse handed over the foetuses to the relatives. The problem arose due to a communication failure between the caregivers and total ignorance of protocols for declaration of death of a living being. Did the error cause death of the fetus ? No it was gross prematurity which caused the death. Unlike the newsanchors, The demons which doctors are made out to be in India are solicited and welcomed abroad in the most developed nations.
Blaming and shaming an individual or cancelling the license of the hospital serve the goal of punishment and retribution but does not prevent this error from happening again. This is classical example of a systems failure. Why should Sagdarjung hospital (1), the hospital in Bundi Rajasthan (2), MGM Hospital in Telangana (3) and the many other hospitals where such incidents have happened also not have their licenses cancelled. Or are rules of engagement different for private hospitals vis a vis the Government hospitals ?. This mistake has happened in other countries as well (4,5,6,7).
Medical error like the one which happened in this incident was not one which changed the outcome for the infant. However it raised the TRPs of various TV channels and cancellation of hospitals license may result in few more votes for the party in power in Delhi. Errors which could have fatal outcomes have also been reported extensively eg where wrong drug (vincristine) was injected into spine with fatal consequences (9). More than 55 incidents were reported upto 2006 from across the globe. Suspending licences of individuals involved would not have prevented the error from repeating itself . Research into causes of why similar errors were made by different individuals in different countries lead to identification of similar looking vials of two different drugs . Protocols for intrathecal administration of chemotherapeutic drugs were also laid down.
Institutions like MAX Hospital require years of persistent hard work of many dedicated medical personnel along with infusion of finances by investors who can easily make their profits in a sector which is not as much in public eye. Cancellation of license of Max has demoralized other investors who could invest into the health sector. Given the current investment of 1.2 % GDP , Government is obviously unwilling to invest into health and now negative signals are being given to private investors with this cancellation as well as with the imposition of the draconian Clinical Establishment Act . This incident will be landmark in the progressive deterioration of health standards in our country.
References;
1) http://www.hindustantimes.com/…/story-Nvt31pHkik3W6UOT9iPy7…
2) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/…/Premature-baby-declared-dead-n… 7 April 2017 Bundi Rajasthan
3) http://www.newsnation.in/…/telangana-baby-girl-declared-dea… 03-07-2017
4) https://www.express.co.uk/…/Miracle-baby-boy-alive-pronounc…
5) https://lifeinsaudiarabia.net/…/alive-baby-declared-dead-i…/ 26-07-2016 Saudi Arabia
6) https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317645.php 26-05-2017
7) https://kgov.com/brain-dead-patients-who-have-recovered List of brain d ead persons who have recovered june 9 2017-12-09
8) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/…/woman-accidentally-cremated-s…/ Rachna Sisodia accidentally cremated while still alive 3-3-2017 Sharda Hospital Greater Noida ash found in respiratory tract.
9) https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/520843
Dr Neeraj Nagpal
Convenor,Medicos Legal Action Group, Managing Director MLAG Indemnity,
Ex President IMA Chandigarh
Director Hope Gastrointestinal Diagnostic Clinic,
1184, Sector 21 B Chandigarh
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