Doctors are trained to treat patients and that is they keep on doing. But in today’s era that is not enough. They are expected to examine, investigate, diagnosis , treat correctly and communicate to the family or patient. Everything should be speedy and financially suitable to the patient’s expectations. Even if that is done, the things do not end here. Doctor need to document, what has been communicated to the family. It is hard to believe that doctor at a hospital like Apollo, who really did well to diagnose a disease like SLE and still did not communicate. Yes, news item mentions that in file that there was no evidence of communication. Doctors still behave like doctors and do not treat patient as consumer. Usually , doctor trust their patients and there is lot of verbal communication takes place. Verbally they sympathize, communicate and tell many things which are not documented as a routine.
The Delhi State Consumer Commission, in its judgment, made it essential for a hospital to disclose to the patients or their attendants, the line of treatment and the potential risks involved in it.
The judgment came in connection with the death of a 23-year-old student, who died during a treatment at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in 2004.
Many times patients are sincere enough to admit to verbal communication. But sometimes when during ongoing medico legal lawsuits, a feeling of revenge prevails or as guided by lawyers, patient may not admit to the verbal communication. Specially if verbal communication is not documented in file.
How to save yourself by “documenting the communication”
- examine, investigate, diagnosis , treat correctly and communicate
- Make a note of plan of treatment and prognosis, and communicate to patient or attendants.
- Sign yourself and ask the patient or nearest relative to sign.
- It is not uncommon that relative will refuse to sign. In that case just write a note and mention that attendant refuses to sign.
- It is also a common issue that after listening to everything, relative will say that he does not understand or will ask his uncle or aunt. These are difficult moments and commonly happen. Just make a note of everything. Besides it wastes crucial time.
- Can use camera for communication in difficult cases.
- Never rely on verbal communication. It has little value. Commonly people refuse to admit verbal communication, and will say that they were not told anything.
As time for everything is limited in life, be it treatment, communication, consent or documentation. So message is clear for doctors. “Talk less and write more”. You will be judged by documents after many years. Therefore, do save the patient, but save yourself also.
Evolution of Medical profession-Extinction of good doctors 
Just anoticed irrelevant thought :
Can such video/audio recording be made compulsory in Government offices ? It is already there even in the Parliament.
I think that can help reducing corruption.
LikeLike
when pt misguide doctor by telling wrong history.is there any legal action on this.
LikeLike
Even if you write that patients attendant refused or didn’t sign and you continue to treat the patient another problem will arise, until they sign Ur consent don’t treat the patient and write why not treatment started. Yes true it’s a fashion to slap doctors on face instead of paying them or rewarding them for their undoubtedly the utmost devotion for betterment of human race.
LikeLike
Thank you. Can you please delete my 1st comment as it got posted twice? We need to have a paradigm shift in communication, counseling and informed consent process whereby the patient is able to make a choice on which therapy to choose. Quite a preparation and trained resources would be required to make a design & implement such a system effectively within the health care delivery system.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The title itself is eluding. Most issues can be avoided with right communication at right time not just while seeking informed consent. Verbal consent is sought as a mere “yes”/ “No” , especially when patients’ relatives are under stress & are not actually listening or partaking in the informed decision making for their treatment strategy. Though verbal communications play a critical role, ‘that which is not documented is not done’ continues to hold true. Recently, in clinical trials, audio-video recording method has been mandated in the Pharma world & can be inculcated as a process in NABH hospitals. It’s not only safety of doctors that’s to be safeguarded, ultimately life of a patient too remains of supreme importance!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I corrected the heading, by a comma. Here I mean is that if court agrees that treatment is not faulty than why fine? If no harm done, warning or suggestion can be enough. It is just a fashion to punish doctors.
LikeLike