BEWARE DOCTORS (MODIFICATION OF "BEWARE DOGS")

BEWARE DOCTORS (MODIFICATION OF "BEWARE DOGS")

Widespread abuse of the medical system is prevalent in our country. Please be careful with such people who not only rob you of your money - but also put your health at huge risk. We can forgive them if it was only money - but how can we forgive people who not only loot - but also put our lives in danger? Please share this article as much as possible so that every indian comes to know.

1. Lab Commission : 

A doctor (it doesnt matter if he is a general practitioner or a specialist or a consultant) prescribes lab tests, xrays, ct scan or MRI scan. The institutions which do these tests - pass on a portion of the fees as commission to the doctor who prescribed them. In South and Central Mumbai - 40% goes as commission and in the suburbs - upto 60% goes to the doctors as commission. Therefore, the doctors will prescribe even unnecessary tests to get a higher commission.

2. Referral Commission :

When your doctor refers you to a specialist, then 30 to 40% of the specialist's fee will come back to your doctor as "referral fee".

3. Hospital Commission :

When your doctor sends you for admission in a hospital - a certain percentage of all the charges that the hospital levies on the patient - will go to your doctor as his commission (ICU, Bed Charges, 

doctor fees, Operation costs etc...)

4. Unnecessary Tests Fees :

The lab people know some tests as "unwanted". They will still charge you and pay the commission to the doctor - without actually doing any tests. This is what is called as "basin tests" - where the sample is simply poured into the basin - and Aamir Khan's Satyameva Jayate program highlighted this malpractice.

5. Admission for Observation :

Even when there is no need - you will be asked to admit the patient in the hospital for "observation". The doctor who recommends "admission" knows very well that admission is not required - but he needs to earn for the hospital - therefore he recommends admission. The doctors who earn more for the hospital will finally get a place in the hospital board also.

6. Unwanted ICU Admission :

Most of the hospitals in the suburbs are run either by a single doctor or by a doctor couple.  The staff they employ are normally not so educated - they will do many jobs - from handling reception - to dressing up wounds to taking care of patients to administering injections to doing ECG tests to even helping in operations. Most such hospitals have ICU Wards also. But these hospitals are very careful in admitting "non-critical" patients in their ICU. They know that such patients dont need intensive care - but still they are admitted and charged for "Intensive care".

7. Unwanted Caesareans and other operations :

Many operations are done only to enrich the hospital's coffers and not because the patient needs it. Caesarean child births and uterus removal are the common "unwanted" operations that are done - because there is low risk in these operations - and the money is good. 

When the woman is screaming in pain and a bit of fear - the doctor will recommend caesarean as the solution. A little more waiting will result in normal delivery - but the doctors will not give you that critical period of waiting - there is a lot of difference between rs. 3000 and rs. 30000 plus - hence they have a minimum of thirty thousand reasons to rush you for caesarean.

How come countries like belgium achieve less than 1 caesarean per 100 child births - whereas in India we seem to be doing the opposite? Who is to be blamed? certainly not the patient!!!!

The second common unwanted operation gaining popularity is "uterus" removal. When a woman's period is almost on hand - there are changes in her body - IF a scan is taken at this time - it is usual to see "fibroid" - which will disappear after her periods. But - pointing to these "fibroids" the doctors advise removal of uterus. When the doctor points to the fibroid on a scan - and also informs about the "danger" of these fibroids - the couple usually agree to the uterus removal operation - costing anywhere between Rs. 30000 to 1.5 lakhs. I have had the opportunity of saving a couple of women from this unwanted operation - and the good news is that they are now healthy - and the fibroids are not there anymore!!!!

8. Cosmetic surgeries :

Many surgeries which are usually advertised as "cosmetic" are not really superficial surgeries - some of them are life threatening also. Beware of cosmetic surgeries.

9. Operation for a dead body :

When your relative is rushed straight to the operation theatre from the ICU - without even informing you - and the doctor urges you to sign the operation consent form with a bit of urgency - then please be careful. It is almost a certainty that your relative is already dead and that the hospital is trying to earn more by conducting an operation on this dead body. Once you sign the consent form, the doctor will go inside - and after 15 or 20 minutes - he will come out and tell you that your relative died during the operation. The hospital gains by way of operation charges - operation theatre costs - the anaesthetist cost - specialists costs etc etc.... Therefore if you are pressured into signing a consent form - pls ask to see the patient. DO NOT SIGN if you are not allowed to see the patient.

This post is not to blame any particular doctor - there are scores of good intentioned doctors - who put patient welfare above everything else - and who spend a lot of time in taking care of patients. KUDOS to such doctors. But the modern system is pathetic - bcos to become a doctor - the student spends a lot of money - and he wants to recover such costs as soon as possible. Hence - be informed patients - ask a lot of questions as to the necessity of such tests.

Be healthy - Thank God always for the priceless wealth called HEALTH.

Please share this article as much as possible so that every indian comes to know.