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Posts Tagged ‘medcial ethics’

The epicenter of a crisis in modern medical care

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , on June 7, 2026|

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Many second opinions might be wrong too … consume it with caution !

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 8, 2026|

Getting a second opinion from another expert is a valuable option for our patients when they face a complex decision-making process, especially when a cardiac intervention is advised. No doubt, it is their fundamental rights too.But this could be hard, if the second opinion is sought regarding indication for coronary or interventional procedure.

It is much, much comfortable to concur with the original decision if it is pro -Intervention. (even if it is against your conscience). Vetoing a procedure which was advised by some big hospitals is almost impossible for cardiologists sitting at their office, however experienced they may be. This is because it is sort of going against, the mainstream and defying science as well. Both doctors and physicians are stuck.

I confront such situations often from patients following elite cardiology consults. I had been forthright and genuine and said a firm no or yes to many such procedures . I understood much later, that only a minority of the patients followed my No advice , while invariably they accepted my yes.

After much confabulations , recently, I have made some recalibarations on my values, (decent term for compromise ) despite all the ethical stuff I write in these columns. But, three things I ensure , before giving my opinion which goes against my assessment.

“This procedure is not indicated in the true scientific and moral sense, but 1.If you lack full trust,  or 2. If you are not ready to accept the risks of not doing it, or 3. If the fear (of not doing it ), would nag you constantly, then get it done as per the advice of  the big guys”.

Final message

Until we acquire the courage to express our true opinion , we certainly fall under the tag of medically incompetent.

Very soon, getting a second* or even third opinion may not really matter. Doctors are silently persuaded to follow the guidelines thursted  by  big scientific syndicates along with compulsion to go with patient wish & preference.

*Caution and clarification

Second clinical opinion for helping to arrive at a medical diagnosis  is of immense value and a great thing to do. In fact, doctors themselves ask for it when they are in doubt. This article is about second opinion regarding the appropriateness of various interventional procedures that is defining modern medicine.

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A shared “Judicial & Medical” quote

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , on December 24, 2025|

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Hippocratic oath : A Patient version

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , on December 4, 2025|

While patient rights has been extensively discussed and debated , there is some concern especially in country like India, where violence against medical professionals has increased to prohibitive levels. This is mainly attributed to low levels of tolerance and high expectations from the doctors and hospitals.

There has been multiple Incidents where doctors are attacked, even when a life is lost due an incurable disease in spite of well administered treatment . Many patients are unable to differentiate the natural history of illness , any death is looked upon as medical negligence. In this context, there is a call for patient education and teaching them responsibilities and make them understand the complexity and uncertainty in the science of biology, and also accept the reality of inadvertent errors in judgment and execution in medical practice. 

A curious solution is suggested .Yes , its called Hippocratic Oath : Patient version .The father of medicine would have never thought , a day would come , when patients might, try to prevail over the Doctors .Readers may decide about the political correctness , utility and practicality of such an oath.

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When does wealth become an enemy of health !

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 26, 2024|

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A potential new face of “Ethical dysfunction” is waiting to unfold !

Posted in bio ethics, Medical education, Medical ethics, medical satistics, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 8, 2023|

Postamble

This quote is being sent for the annual meet of “Right care movement” I know ,this can sound outrageous, permissble limits of abuse ? Up to 2% or 5% ? Let it be anything . Meanwhile try to enlighten yourself , the key differences between misuse & abuse.

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Academic cowardise and medical obfuscation !

Posted in cardiology journals, cardiology-ethics, Cardiology-Land mark studies, tagged , , , , , , , , on December 31, 2012| Leave a Comment »

 

* Obfuscation:  hiding of intended meaning in communication, making communication confusing, wilfully ambiguous, and harder to interpret

This world can not be a perfect place and  it is foolish to expect the same !   What is published in medical literature is at best , an abstract thinking  of an unfinished agenda . Still public think  science is   . . . what doctors say ! They feel doctors can not simply watch a person  dying. They want us  act like  God. This is  how medical men became Demi-Gods  by default.

Here was a big opportunity . Who exploited it ? Obviously the greedy corporates  who embarked  on a dirty journey to en- cash this trust  and fill their coffers .This is the foundation  on which the  basics of medical market economy rides !

It is an un-pardonable on-going deceit among  modern human civilization . It has  spoiled  the trust between the patient and doctor and  probably  irreversibly  contaminated  in recent decades !

There are very few positives  though,  with occasional noble medical  souls (Like  BMJ,Lancet )   trying to keep the sinking ship afloat !

This sounding board article (Now we rarely  get to see )  from NEJM way back  in 1975  exposes a  shocking revelation  politely . Now, 40 years after ,  the importance of such article has grown  many fold . We are witnessing  every day ,  medical scientist break  stories ( Yes  . . . it is story )  in general media  with  absolute academic cowardice !

We expect more such  face bashing articles from NEJM . It would definitely  make   immense  good  for  our profession  which needs it  desperately !

Reference

I’m linking the original NEJM article ; Hope it does not violate copy right !

http://www.bumc.bu.edu/facdev-medicine/files/2011/03/Crichton_M_nejm1975_293_1257_medical-obfuscation_structure-function.pdf

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Why doctors are referred to as “Practicing” Medicine

Posted in bio ethics, cardiology-ethics, general medicine, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on August 1, 2010| Leave a Comment »

It is  often  quoted  “Practice makes  every one  perfect”  . . .  Doctors continue to practice for ever  . . .If practice is only  a rehearsal  , when do they perform  for real ?

And , we know  a doctor spends his entire life time practicing  . . . In other words  doctors are only experimenting .

So , do not get fooled by his errors . Errors are bound to  happen  during their  practicing sessions !

The problem  with general public  is , they never understand this basic fact – medical  science  is nothing but  a , on going research on human body .If only  we understand this  we can accept  the millions of medical  mistakes*  that occur  every day in  the global  medical  profession . The major  aim of modern medical science  is to reduce that .

* Of course, negligence is a punishable offense . But,  we should also realise , non- negligent medical  mistakes are many fold higher than negligent ones .

While  a careful doctor will avoid negligent mistakes a thinking doctor will avoid   non -negligent mistakes also.

This puts onus back on doctors. We need to critically analyse , every

treatment modality we follow .

If you are a strong believer of   “Medicine is indeed  a  science and doctors are scientists ” , please read this article from British medical  journal and conclude  yourself.

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/328/7454/0-h

Further reading

The bestseller  How doctors think

Picture courtesy : Jupeter stock Images

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