Recently the license of a private hospital in Delhi was cancelled alleging negligence in declaring an alive newborn as dead and this evoked strong sentiments from various quarters of the society. We conducted an online survey to understand how Doctors feel about this step.

Methodology & Demography of Respondents

The survey carried a few simple and direct questions for the Indian doctor community. The doctors were requested to respond voluntarily over a period of 1 week. A total of 101 doctors responded to the online questionnaire.

 

 

Majority of the Doctors disagree with the action taken

Over 54% respondents disagreed strongly with the action, while 21% said that they “somewhat disagree”. The percentage of Doctors that strongly agreed was only 8%.

 

 

 

 

 

The Doctors who strongly disagreed seem to believe that Doctors and Private Hospitals are “soft targets” for the Media and politicians.

"A proper investigation of the matter and circumstances should be done. If something is found wrong, there are provisions under the law to penalize the concerned. The action taken affects a whole lot of doctors, paramedical persons and patients amongst others, who are not directly or indirectly involved in the said matter."– General Practitioner from a Government Hospital in Vadodara who strongly disagreed with the action taken.

Some section of the Doctors took a more middle stance suggesting that while they agree that there was negligence, the penalty was too harsh.

“If you look at the medical details of patient - One of the twins delivered at 22 weeks gestation with very low birth weight. Even in advanced western Medical facilities, such babies are unlikely to survive. It is not that baby died because it was handed over to parents, baby died of prematurity. Error on part of hospital was to not provide care while baby was still alive. In likely scenario baby would not have made it, but that is no reason to pronounce it dead.” – Cardiothoracic surgeon practicing in private Hospital in Mumbai who somewhat disagreed with the action.

The fraction that supported the action were more critical of the Hospital and Doctors and felt such actions set up strong deterrence.

“There is mushrooming of private hospitals in India, but practically no strong regulation to control. I think this is an initiative to control private hospital for quality care” – Public Health practitioner in a Government Hospital in Bhubaneshwar.

 

Doctors are often unaware of the laws

When the doctors were asked if they were aware of the scope of the DNHA (Delhi nursing home act) and section 7 of this act, under which the license ws cancelled or any similar act that existed in their respective state, following were the results reported.

• 82% doctors were not aware of what DNHA was about
• A meagre 18% responded in affirmative

 

 

Clear protocols and transplant communication most critical

Doctors also shared ideas about steps, if implementd by Hospitals, that would potentially minimize such accidents in the future. Some of the prominent ideas shared by the doctors were as below;

• Proper and transprant patient and realtive communication and counselling
• Regular reviews or morbidity, mortality meetings
• Documentation and taking Written Informed Consent by doctors after explaining the situation of premature labour and morbidity of fetuses, need for NICU etc. Standard Operating Protocols should be in place. Superior should be informed of important events of case.
• Hierarchy with responsibility laid at different levels of managerial staff, appointment of medico-legal expert in handling protocol before issuing death certifcates
• Videography while explaining prognosis and death decleration

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M3 India regularly conducts surveys to explore issues that impact Indian Doctors, and shares these insights back with Doctors community. You can participate in such surveys and voice your opinions on important matters facing Doctors in India, in the Surveys section.

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Disclaimer

We have presented the data and facts as they are without generalizing the results as a reflection of the views of entire Indian doctor population. The demographic profile of the survey participants [shown above] may differ from the population of all Indian Doctors. Also, limiting the sample to the Internet channel only may introduce bias in the results. We also urge that the findings should not be interpreted as implying cause and effect.