The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Seminar held on legal issues in health care

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Monday, Mar 07, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Seminar held on legal issues in health care

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, MARCH 6. A seminar on legal issues in health care discussed how the practice of defensive medicine was growing as a result of litigation. It was organised by the Forum for Health and Law Interface.

K. Srinath Reddy, Padma Bhushan awardee and Head, Department of Cardiology, All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, said health care was an imperfect and flawed market as it was provider-driven. He called for the intervention of the Government to rectify the imbalances.

Dr. Reddy wanted a partnership model of healthcare where the patients were not just informed but participated in decision-making. It was a sham if the doctors merely kept the patients informed.

M.H.S. Ansari, High Court Judge, said doctors resorted to defesive medicine to guard against law suits and claims by patients. In the process, the doctors subjected patients to elaborate tests and referred them to experts, causing them financial hardship. The patients expected their money's worth and moved the courts if dissatisfied.

He said medical negligence and malpractices by doctors were the grey areas in health care where legal issues operated.

K. Jayachandra Reddy, former Chairman, Press Council of India, said 90 per cent of the cases registered against doctors were found to be frivolous, mischievous and instigated. Too much consumerism may lead to doctors looking at every patient as a potential litigant, affecting their professional status and reputation.

I.V. Subba Rao, Principal Secretary, Medical and Health, said doctors were withdrawing from playing a pro-active role to protecting themselves.

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