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Category: COMMENTS
January 01, 2009
The process of regulating conceptive technologies (like artificial insemination, in vitro fertilisation and surrogacy) commonly known as Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs), which started in 1999 in the country, reached an important turning point on September 13, 2008. At a two day National...
January 01, 2009
The idea of calling MBBS doctors "quacks" may seem strange to many, especially to those who are used to hearing about unqualified people practising medicine. For many in the medical fraternity, the practices described here may not be viewed with disapproval. So what exactly is this practice and w...
January 01, 2009
Negligence in a sterilisation operation is a crucial issue in a country like India where sterilisation operations form an important part of government programmes. This article seeks to highlight the medico-legal dilemmas that surround this issue, and the legal pronouncements on it. The article al...
January 01, 2009
Today, computers are used in every field of work including medicine. Despite the computer revolution, however, a great deal of information in clinical records in hospitals continues to be handwritten. The doctor may understand what he/she has written, but difficulties arise when other parties are...
October 01, 2008
Scientists and doctors are constantly told that they must not involve themselves in politics or international affairs because that may have a diversionary or corrupting influence on their professional work and commitments. The proposition has some validity in respect of politics in the narrow sen...
October 01, 2008
One of the major ethical issues that I face very often in my practice is whether to criticise my colleagues or not. Complaints, criticism and condemnation lead to terrible consequences and never help anyone, they say. I am told that my colleagues are to be treated like my siblings and I should ne...
October 01, 2008
"Whistle-blowing" can be defined as speaking out about sub-standard practice or flawed systems which put patients at risk of harm. It has become a vital aspect of doctor-patient trust and much is written about the duties of all doctors to minimise risk and improve the safety of patient care. This...
October 01, 2008
I empathise with Dr Sinha's dilemma of what to do with inefficient doctors (sometimes your own peers and colleagues) who are negligent, unsympathetic and sometimes unskilled, often to the detriment of the patient . While keeping silent is not the solution, one also wonders whether whistle-blowing...
October 01, 2008
Around the world, patients and their families, in the face of a cancer diagnosis, wish for and seek out the best, state-of-the-art treatment. In this commentary, the story of one patient in the USA draws attention to what extent demand and expectations for treatment may go, and to the legal decis...
October 01, 2008
The commentary identifies important issues relating to the responsibilities of physicians, researchers and regulatory agencies.