The Hindu : New Delhi News : Site for second medical opinion

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Site for second medical opinion

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JAN. 11. Life for this U.K.-based Indian ophthalmologist, Dinesh Verma, would have remained confined to "routine'' had not fate willed otherwise. The intervention came in the form of a 14-year-old Indian patient with a tumour in the spine.

The treating doctor sent the patient's medical investigation papers to Dr. Verma, asking him whether he could arrange for a second opinion. The transfer of papers to the U.K. and then organising a second opinion took a "precious'' three months.

"This got me thinking and I realised that in the age of fast evolving technology we should make access easy. And that is how in 2001, I started with probably the first organised internet based medical consultations -- Tele-diagnosis -- which offers options to patients and their relatives to go in for world-class `second opinion' from super-specialists. Also, patients or doctors who are involved in medico-legal disputes and want to have an independent report can log-on to this special service. The site also provides an options for doctors who want to refer their cases for any additional information or even suggestion,'' explained Dr. Verma, who is currently in the Capital. The added advantage of the system is the fact that the whole process is very fast and secure. The patients can expect an opinion from the specialist within a week of giving in their payment and rates vary according to the complexity of the case.

However, during the entire consultation process doctors remain protected against malpractice suites for giving their opinion on the Internet since patients never provide information directly and no doctor-patient relationship is established. Patient remains under care of their referring doctor who has the choice of accepting or rejecting the second opinion.

"Information cannot be send directly to the super specialist, since there are many technical terms and investigations that patients may not be familiar with. So once the patient registers with Tele-diagnosis, a team according to his geographical details is able to find a doctor nearest to the registered patient. Yet another service provided is where the patients can come to the Tele-diagnosis centre directly where a doctor will take all the details and send the information to the relevant specialist. However, through the entire process patients remain in the care of their own doctor and for those who want to take a look at the service, you could register or check out the website -- www.Tele-diagnosis.com,'' explained Dr. Verma.

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