Patients Right to Choose!

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Do you think a Patient has the right to choose their treatment?

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undisclosed thumbnail
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Posted: 13 years ago
#1

Episode 4 on Medical Malpractice left me with a lingering questions...if doctor's in India are seen as God's...then does that mean that a patient does not have the right to question their course of treatment?...for example...blood transfutions..."its needed" they say...but is that true...when there are even more effective alternatives to a blood transfusion...the same goes for other treatments...do you think the patient has the right to choose the treatment they concider right for them if such treatment is known to exist and has been found effective?

editting for explaination: does the patient have the right to choose...as in the doctor himself has to explain all the options available for the patient to know...😳
Edited by undisclosed - 13 years ago

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-Purva- thumbnail
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Posted: 13 years ago
#2
Is the patient who's taking the decision fully informed of the problem, the risks involved and the merits and demerits of the two treatment procedures? Just because a procedure worked for one person does not mean that it'll work for another.

Like one cannot instruct a mason on the right mixture of sand and cement to construct a building, one cannot instruct a doctor on what treatment to administer. Else there would be no need for rigorous medical studies, specializations, years of practice and experience, would there?

Moreover, what if the procedure the patient opts for puts his/her life at risk? Who's going to take the responsibility? Wouldn't such a choice then be termed as suicide? Can a doctor in all honesty allow a patient to die - "thru inaction"?

A patient can opt for a particular procedure only with a doctor's assistance. The doctor after diagnosing the problem may consult with the patient and his family about the various types of treatments available and the benefits and risks involved in each and the patient may then opt for one of them. Informed Consent, as it is known in medical practice. However, for a patient to come and tell the doctor to treat the ailment in a particular way may not be a good option.
Edited by Chitrashi - 13 years ago
642126 thumbnail
Posted: 13 years ago
#3

This is a VERY complex issue especially in context of India. Firstly, patients do not always have expert knowledge about the disease. Either they don't know a thing at all or rely on hearsay or online ''search''.

Secondly, in India, many educated people also avoid undergoing tests or seeking treatment and prefer to carry on as long as they can - only to avoid extra expenditure and any possibility of hospitalisation! My parents are highly educated (and one is a doctor himself!), but avoid undergoing detailed health check ups and tests, just because they think they can make do with medicines (which offer temporary relief from any condition) or think how will the household be managed if something serious came out in tests and avoid hospitalisation!

My nani used to have chest pain. But she kept ignoring, giving excuses it was just due to acidity or gas etc. Avoided all tests and check ups. But finally did get uncontrollable pain - it was heart attack! Even when she had heart attack she kept telling everyone kuch nahi hai, doctors aise hi bol rahe hain! But thank God, my uncles didn't listen to her excuses anymore and took her to hospital or else she would not have been alive today!😲

People tend to avoid doctors and hospitals. Take or prescribe medications themselves or their desi nuskhe, are repelled by expenses, hospitalisation or leaving family or having family to take care of them while they are in hospital. We can't say that patients should have COMPLETE right to choose.

Patients should be aware that's all. And ask questions if they want - it's their right. Take opinions from more doctors if need be. Do not even trust doctors blindly, but do not even dismiss them completely! Be vigilant, not eternally suspicious. Take action only if you feel you're being duped or your queries are not being answered at all, or doctor is doing something without your consent.

undisclosed thumbnail
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Posted: 13 years ago
#4

@ Chitrashi ... actually i meant if patient has the right to choose...as in the doctor himslef informs of all the options available...like i explained in the case of blood transfusions...doctors will rarely mention any other alternative even when it exists and has been found just as effective and in cases even more effective...that was just an example...

undisclosed thumbnail
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Posted: 13 years ago
#5

@ annika20 ...i agree with you...but i think i didn't explain my question properly...please see edit...😳

-Purva- thumbnail
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Posted: 13 years ago
#6
Actually if there is more than one way to treat an ailment, then the doctor is required to inform the patient and the it is up to the patient to choose the treatment procedure. I've seen this happen with Cancer patients, Kidney failure, blockages in arteries and other such life-threatening situations also, so of course for other ailments there is no reason why the doctor should not take the patient and his/her family into confidence.

Also in some cases the patient might be allergic to certain medications or be unable to sustain certain procedures (severe reaction to certain drugs used in anesthesia for e.g.) so a patients participation in the treatment process therefore becomes vital.
undisclosed thumbnail
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Posted: 13 years ago
#7

yes i think doctors should inform the patient of all the options...not just the one they are in favor of..they should tell the patient all the benefits...and all the risks of each treatment option...i have heard of many people being refused treatment or care because their conscience may not allow them to accept a certain treatment...that the doctor is in favor of...yet will allow them to accept another that is also available...but the doctors won't even consider do to their traditional views on medicine...

642126 thumbnail
Posted: 13 years ago
#8

That, I agree with!

Patient has every right to be informed if alternatives are available along with simple, understandable explanation of consequences (side effects etc.) of each alternative. In fact, ideally I think patient should not even have to ask! Doctors can suggest themselves!

Doctors refusing to cooperate with patients, or expecting them to tow the line, blindly follow what they say, or getting angry if patient asks questions - either refusing to answer, or giving false/incomplete information or confusing them with medical jargon and mocking them that they won't understand etc. is NOT RIGHT.

That said, patients should also cooperate with doctors. Thanks to a couple of corrupt doctors, people have begun to believe doctors put them in ''chakkar''!😆 Just as they used to be wary of police aur adaalat ka chakkar, they now feel worried by doctors/hospitals ka chakkar!


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