The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Unethical

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Friday, Jun 29, 2007
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Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Unethical

It is unfortunate that a 15-year-old boy, son of a doctor couple, allegedly performed a Caesarean section on a 20-year-old woman at their private hospital in Manapparai, Tamil Nadu. While investigating the case, the government should also enquire into the working of thousands of similar private hospitals owned and run by doctors. A large number of these ‘hospitals’ are housed in private buildings that lack the necessary infrastructure. They have no running water or toilets that sick people can use. Their employees are untrained or improperly trained. Inpatient rooms are congested and unventilated.

Bernard Thangasamy,

Coimbatore

The incident, if true, is most unfortunate and unethical. The doctor couple, who have been arrested, do not seem to have realised that surgery is not just about cutting and suturing. The art of surgery and medicine lies in the knowledge of when to intervene and when not to, the recognition of complications and their management, and the overall well-being of the patient, none of which one would expect a 15-year-old boy to know.

Dr. A. Ramakrishnan,

Chennai

Acts such as the alleged operation clearly violate the code of medical ethics. They deepen the people’s mistrust of doctors. The punishment should ensure that such incidents do not recur and it should convince the people that the authorities are serious about enforcing the required standards in medical practice.

Dr. Uma Raja,

Tiruchi

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