Friday 11 October 2013

Election of one member to Medical Council of India from Delhi

The election of one member to Medical Council of India has been announced and approximately 54000 members of Delhi Medical Council will be voting for their candidate to the Medical Council of India.

Dr. Vinay Aggarwal has filed his nomination and I know him personally for the last two decades. I have been working with him in Delhi Medical Council for the last four years and have worked with him in Indian Medical Association where he has worked as Past National President.

Dr Vinay is also a Dr. BC Roy National Awardee and Dr. PN Behl Community Service Awardee by Delhi Medical Association. He has been both the Secretary and President of DMA and Secretary General of IMA. At Branch level, he has been President of IMA East Delhi Branch.

In the recently held CMAAO conference, where again I worked closely with him, he took over as the President of CMAAO.

I personally feel that Medical Council of India needs people who are grass-root workers, medical activists working for the welfare of the society.

Today IMA has been able to make its presence felt in issues like Clinical Establishment Act, one-year Rural Service linked to education, re-institution of Medical Council of India. If it was not for the IMA, the MCI by now would have been dissolved permanently and a democratic body would have been converted into a sub-department of Ministry of Health. But because of the pressure by IMA and its activists, the Ministry of Health has been forced to re-elect MCI, a process which will complete on 9th November this year.

MCI is not only about medical education but it also controls the registration and both protection and taking disciplinary action against doctors. Only grass-root workers can understand and provide significant inputs to MCI.

MCI today needs substantial change. There is a need for the capitation fees to come down; change in the UG and PG curricula; for PG examination immediately after MBBS and before internship; to have common entrance and exit examinations; of transparency in medical education admissions and to change the law by which a Russian doctor with MD Physician degree which is not even actually equivalent to MBBS degree in India is denied permission to write MD against their name. 

Finally there is a need to prepare a uniform and standard medical education programme across the country.


I wish him all the success.

Saturday 5 October 2013

Coronary-Stenting Abuse


A recent article highlights high-profile cases of alleged coronary-stenting overuse. It’s just the tip of the iceberg.

"When stents are used to restore blood flow in heart-attack patients, few dispute they are beneficial," writes Peter Waldman, David Armstrong, and Sydney P Freedberg  in Bloomberg BusinessWeek .  But heart attacks account for only about half of stenting procedures.

Among the other half —elective-surgery patients in stable condition—overuse, death, injury, and fraud have accompanied the devices use. The article cites thousands of pages of court documents and regulatory filings, interviews with 37 cardiologists and 33 heart patients or their survivors, and more than a dozen medical studies.

As per Texas Medical Board, Dr Samuel DeMaio is said to have implanted 21 coronary stents in one patient over an eight-month period. The patient's later death was related to the placement of unneeded stents.

Dr John McLean of Salisbury, MD, was convicted of billing for unwarranted stenting. He argued that inappropriate usage is widespread, and [he] was prosecuted for behavior that’s the industry norm.

Baltimore cardiologist Dr Mark Midei, license was revoked in 2011 when the Maryland Board of Physicians found he falsified records to justify unwarranted stents. The hospital where Midei worked, St Joseph Medical Center in Towson, MD, paid the government $22 million without admitting liability as a part of settlement.



Apart five other hospitals settled with the Justice Department over allegations that they paid illegal kickbacks to doctors for patient referrals to their cath labs. [Medscape Cardiology]

Antibiotics still overprescribed in sore throat and bronchitis

Even today antibiotics are still drastically overprescribed for two common complaints -- sore throat and bronchitis. Doctors order antibiotics for about 60% of patients who complain of a sore throat, according to Jeffrey Linder, MD, of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

The problem is that only about one sore throat in 10 is caused by a pathogen -- group A streptococcus -- that responds to antimicrobial agents. The picture is even worse for bronchitis, Linder said -- some 73% of complaints result in an antibiotic prescription, but the condition never responds to the drugs.

The data come just weeks after the CDC warned that antibiotic resistance -- fueled by inappropriate use of the drugs -- is reaching a crisis.

People should be tiled that antibiotics not going to help you and there's a very real chance they're going to hurt you.


Friday 27 September 2013

Harvard commonly held myths about end-of-life issues

Myth: More care is always better.
Truth: Not necessarily. Sometimes more care prolongs the dying process without respect for quality of life or comfort. It’s important to know what interventions are truly important. It’s often impossible to know that in advance. That’s where the advice of a healthcare team is invaluable.
 Myth: Refusing life support invalidates your life insurance, because you are committing suicide.
Truth: Refusing life support does not mean that you are committing suicide. Instead, the underlying medical problem is considered to be the cause of death.
 Myth: If medical treatment is started, it cannot be stopped.
Truth: Not starting a medical treatment and stopping a treatment are the same in the eyes of the law. So you or your health care agent can approve a treatment for a trial period that you think may be helpful without fear that you can’t change your mind later. However, be aware that stopping treatment can be more emotionally difficult than not starting it in the first place.
 Myth: If you refuse life-extending treatments, you’re refusing all treatments.
Truth: No matter what treatments you refuse, you should still expect to receive any other care you need or want — especially the pain and symptom management sometimes called intensive comfort care.
 Myth: Stopping or refusing artificial nutrition and hydration causes pain for someone who is dying.

Truth: Unlike keeping food or water from a healthy person, for someone who is dying, declining artificial nutrition or intravenous hydration does not cause pain.

Hand, mouth, foot disease update

     ·        Person can remain infective for one week
·        No antibiotics are required
·        Can occur in adults
·        Rash is itchy as against dengue non itchy rash
·        Painful sores in mouth make swallowing difficult




Thursday 26 September 2013

Hand, foot and mouth disease

We have been seeing a rise in the number of cases of hand, foot and mouth disease in Delhi among school children. These may be mistaken for chicken pox.
Hand, foot and mouth disease: Salient facts

  • Hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral illness most commonly caused by the Coxsackie virus A6.
  • Enteroviruses 71 (EV71) can also cause hand, foot and mouth disease.
  • Both adults and children can develop this infection. But young children below 5 years old are more susceptible.
  • It is a moderately contagious illness.
  • The incubation period is 5 days.
  • The illness begins with fever, which lasts for 24-48 hours.
  • Fever is followed by appearance of painful sores in mouth. They begin as small red spots that blister and then often become ulcers. Tongue is involved.
  • There are peripherally distributed small tender non itchy rash with blisters on palms of the hands, and soles of feet and buttocks.
  • The sores hurt on touch and swallowing is difficult.
  • There is proximal separation of nail from the nail bed.
  • The virus is present in mucus from nose, saliva, fluid from sores and traces of bowel movements.
  • The virus spreads in the first week of infection.
  • The infection spreads from person to person by direct contact with nasal discharge, saliva or blister fluid or from stool of infected persons.
  • The virus can persist in the stool for weeks.
  • The illness is not transmitted to or from pets or other animals
  • The illness stays for 2-3 days. It is usually mild and self limited.
  • Entero 71 virus is associated with brain involvement (meningitis and encephalitis), lungs and the heart.
  • The patient remains infectious after the symptoms have gone.
  • Test is not necessary.
  • There is no specific treatment.
  • Paracetamol tablet can be taken to relieve pain and fever.
  • Aspirin is to be avoided in children.
  • Dehydration should be avoided.
  • Eat ice cream to numb the pain.
  • Using mouthwashes or sprays that numb mouth
  • Regularly wash your hands with soap and water.
  • Avoid exposure to infected person.
  • Maintain touch hygiene to reduce your risk of acquiring the infection.
  • During first week of illness, the child should be kept in isolation.
  • Schools should be closed.
  • There is no vaccine currently available

Tuesday 24 September 2013

Statins clear cholesterol at the risk of cataract

In the primary analysis of 6,972 matched pairs of statin users and nonusers, those taking the cholesterol-lowering medication had a 9% increased risk of developing cataracts said Dr Ishak Mansi, of the VA North Texas Health System at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, and colleagues in JAMA Ophthalmology. In a secondary subgroup analysis of 33,513 patients (6,113 on statins) who had no comorbidity, based on the Charlson comorbidity index, the use of statins remained significantly associated with cataracts.

Saturday 21 September 2013

Why only surgical consent

Why only surgical consent

I believe all patients should sign a medical consent also. It can solve most of the medicolegal problems. I have designed one. Kindly send your inputs before I ask the association or the council to approve it.

Dr KK Aggarwal
MEDICAL CONSENT FORM
Date:
1.    Name:                                                2. Age:                                    3. Sex:           
4.  Email:                                            5. Mobile No:                        6. Address:

I, hereby give medical (general/specific) consent for my treatment under Dr _________________________
 I have read and understood the enlisted information and the same also has been conveyed to me in my own language and I have cleared all my doubts.

1)     I understand that my treating doctors _________ are honorary consultants and not hospital employees. 
2)     Being honorary consultants, they provide consultancy to their patients morning and evening at pre-defined times and they are on call for SOS consults.
3)     During their absence, the hospital provides cover through resident/floor doctors who are under the payroll of the hospital. 
4)     In emergencies, the hospital provides resident/Intensivist cover. They are qualified doctors specialized only in this job. They may shift the patient if need arises to the intensive care unit.  They are authorized to act independently as per the need of the situation.
5)     The night coverage is provided by the hospital residents/floor doctors. The treating consultants are available on phone in the night but for any emergency it is the hospital which provides the intensive care coverage to tackle any unforeseen event. The hospital will charge separately for these facilities.
6)     I understand that there may be situations when there is an emergency and the treating consultants may not be available for hours. In that case the hospital intensive care unit will provide necessary cover and take appropriate need based decisions.
7)     I understand that nursing care is provided by the hospital and is not under the direct charge of honorary treating consultants. 
8)     If there is any problem with the nursing care, I/my relations need to contact the floor nursing manager for the same. 
9)     I understand that Diet services are provided by the hospital through a hospital dietitian who can be approached through the nursing staff.  Treating doctors directly do not control the dietary services.
10) I have been told that doctors do not guarantee cure.  They only provide treatment and do investigations to the best of their skills, acumen and knowledge. 
11) I understand that there may be a situation may arise where even after days of admission, the diagnosis may not be made by my treating consultants and in that situation I hereby authorize by primary treating doctor/s to call upon other specialist to give a second opinion. The fee for these specialists will be charged separately.
12) I understand that my treating doctors have no objection to discuss my case with my primary referral doctor or a family physician.
13) I hereby authorize my treating doctor/s to investigate me to the best of their skill and knowledge and which should be in my best interest.
14) I understand that there is theoretical risk of sudden cardiac arrest in patients with uncontrolled blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes, unstable heart blockages, morbid obesity, abnormal lipids, acute febrile illness (dengue, pneumonia,) etc. Sometimes while the patient is in the ward he or she may develop cardiac arrest due to lung clots ( pulmonary embolism) which may be life threatening. This usually happens when the person is lying on the bed for some time.
15) I understand that it is my responsibility to tell the doctors on a daily basis if I do not pass motion/flatus after 24 hours of stay in the hospital or if I do not pass urine in less than 8 hours on any day.
16) I understand that in spite of the best care by the hospital there may be an accident of fall from the bed. To prevent that except in the intensive care areas, I am supposed to provide and keep an attendant with me.
17) I hereby give permission and authority to my treating doctors for certain invasive procedures like fluid aspiration, dressing, internal cavity fluid aspirations, etc.   Each one of them may have some inherent complication rate including a rare mortality.
18) I understand that even giving intravenous fluids is not without any risk.  There are chances of developing inflammation, infection, drip reaction (fever and chills), oozing of blood, and swelling from the IV site.   
19) I hereby also give consent for any radiological investigation/s which may include ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, etc.  I understand that any x-ray or CT imaging involves radiation risk. 
20) I hereby authorize my treating doctor/s to go ahead with necessary investigations irrespective of the cost in the in the best interest of my condition.
21) I have been explained about the hospital charges including the policy of advance payment and will abide by the same.
22) I understand that a situation may arise where I may need a blood transfusion. I authorize hereby my treating doctors to arrange necessary blood from voluntary donors for transfusion. The hospital may ask for replace of the donor.
23) I understand that the blood bank is a hospital department and the blood is issued by them and transfused by the nurses under the supervision of the hospital resident/floor doctor/s.  The treating consultant/s’ role is only to decide whether a transfusion is required or not.  If any blood transfusion reaction occurs it is the responsibility of the hospital and not the treating doctors.
24) I understand that it is my duty to disclose on oath all my previous illnesses at the time of admission. Any false information added to Mediclaim may amount to a fraud.
25) I have declared my history of any drug allergy, history of pass illnesses and personal history including my habits and addition at the time of admission and same cannot be changed unless provided by proofs.
26) I have checked the spelling of my name, age and address at the time of admission as it may be difficult to change these parameters at the time of discharge or after the discharge.
27) There are certain medical procedures which are sometimes necessary in the medical treatment that may include putting in a ryles tube, urinary catheter, etc. I hereby give consent for the same.
28) I understand that nothing comes free in a corporate hospital.  I have to pay for all consumables which may include gloves, hand sanitizer, tissue paper, soaps, thermometer, etc.  I have the right to carry back these disposables which have been issued/billed to me. 
29) Many of the consumables may  not be covered by the Mediclaim policy/Public sector undertaking/Government units. For these I may be billed separately and may have to pay cash. It is my duty at the time of admission to clarify with the admission office as to which are the items which are not reimbursable.
30) I understand that hospital does not accept cheques and I have to pay either in cash or by demand drafts. 
31) I understand that if I pay by credit card, the charges may be extra.
32) I understand that being a corporate intuitions, there are no provisions for concessions. The treating doctor/s should not be embarrassed for the same as they may have no role.
33) I understand that hospital charges more money for inpatients for certain investigations/procedures compared to outpatients. 
34) I understand that hospital does not allow bringing any food from outside or buy medicine or devices from outside.
35) I understand that the hospital policy does not allow children to visit the hospital as relations.
36) I understand that there are strict visiting hours which my relations might have to abide.
37) I understand that hospital does not allow flowers to be brought within the hospital premises.
38) I understand that hospital is a smoking-free zone.
39) I understand that hospital will provide vegetarian healthy diet.
40) I understand that hospital will not permit me to buy medicines or procure devices from outside hospital pharmacy.
41) I understand there is a separate counter  in the hospital to assist for Mediclaim or PSU formalities. It is my/my relations’ duty to get Mediclaim farm issued from the counter and get it signed by the treating consultant and get it faxed to the TPA. It will be my duty (not my treating consultants) to follow it up with the TPA through the TPA desk. The TPA form needs to be submitted within 24 hours of admission. If there is a delay, the primary doctors will not be responsible or the same.
42) I understand that on the day of discharge it may take 6-8 hours by the Mediclaim counter or the TPA to process my queries and finally sanction the claim.
43) I understand that if I leave the hospital in the night, I may end up in cancellation of my Mediclaim policy.
44) For any ward leave, I need to contact the treating doctor/floor doctor/floor manager/floor nursing staff and need to provide the reasons for the same.
45) I understand that the Mediclaim insurance will cover only 1% of my insured amount as the room rent (2/% for intensive care). If I upgrade any room, my charges will increase for other services also and insurance company may reimburse me for my room/other services as per original entitlement.
46) I understand that the hospital charges may be different for different categories of patients.  It is not like a hotel where the difference is only in the room rent.  The charges of surgery, anesthesia, doctors fee, etc. may vary as per the bed category chosen.
47) I understand that at the time of admission, the doctor/s may admit you with a provisional diagnosis (disorder A) and may end up in getting a diagnosis (disorder B) for which investigations and treatment facilities may not be available in the hospital and hospital may ask for a transfer to other hospital.
48) I understand that the hospital may not have 100% facilities available in the world.
49) In case of sudden cardiac arrest in the hospital premises, the hospital policy is to Alarm Blue Code in which hospital intensive care team reaches the spot and provides resuscitative measures. The resuscitation may be done in the room or the patient may be shifted to the ICU.  During this emergency, the treating primary doctor/s may or may not be there.  Certain life threatening emergency procedures may be done at that moment.
50) I understand that there are certain unforeseen accidents which may occur in the hospital premises in spite of the precautions. These may include burn while taking steam, ECG electrode burn, electric monitor burn, fall from the bed, etc. etc. 
51) I understand that it is my responsibility to disclose about any drug allergy at the time of admission. I also understand that there may still be some drugs to whom I may be allergic and that may end up with drug reaction. Every unforeseen drug reaction carries a theoretical risk of mortality and morbidity.
52) I am/am not suffering from HIV, Hepatitis B and C positive.
53) I am/am not suffering from open Tuberculosis.
54) I understand that I need to declare if I have been treated by a quake in the recent past.
55) I understand I need to disclose if I am on Ayurvedic, Homeopathic, Unani or drugs from other traditional healers.
56) I have disclosed my smoking status (smoker/non-smoker)
57) I have disclosed my alcohol intake (yes/no)
58) I do understand that smokers may carry high mortality and morbidity when treated and their response to treatment may be poor.
59) It is my duty to disclose my past vaccination status and I have understood about my future vaccination suggestions.
60) I understand that the hospital has a policy to examine any female patient in the presence of a female attendant or in the presence of the husband/father.
61) While doing an ECG, X-ray or Echocardiogram, it may be possible that a male technician or the male doctor does the same in the presence of a female attendant.  I hereby permit for the same.
62) I understand that when I come for a checkup, there is an applied consent for physical and clinical examination which may involve examination of all parts of the body if clinically indicated
63) I understand that there are 5% chances of acquiring new infection in the hospital premises by me or my relations/friends visiting me.  Getting hospital acquired infection/s in spite of precautions may not mean a medical negligence on the part of the treating doctors.
64) Even after taking all the care, it is still possible to develop bed sore during the hospital stay depending upon my nutritional status and immunity of the patent.
65) I understand that ward boys and safai karamcharis may not be available in the ward all the time.  These services are provided by the hospital and not by treating consultant/s.  In case there is any delay in any such services, I may need to contact the floor manager to sort out the same.
66) I understand that primary treating consultant/s will see me twice a day. They are allowed to see me once more if the situation arises for which my treating doctor/s will be entitled for one more consultation. My treating doctors therefore are allowed two routine and one extra emergency consultation in a day.  On the day of admission and on the day of discharge two consultations may be charged.  Even a telephonic emergency consultation at odd hours is counted as a valid emergency visit as it involves change in medical treatment.
67) I understand that there is no Do Not Resuscitate Policy in India.  It is my duty to follow the legal obligations regarding end of life issues.
68) I understand that it is my right to get a refund of unused medicine and disposables at the time of discharge. 
69)  I understand that difference of opinion and error of judgment is not negligence. 
70) I understand that deviation from normal practice is not negligence.
71) I understand that medical accidents are known to occur and does not amount to negligence..
72) I understand that to error is human.  I understand that I have the right to choose my consultants.
73) I understand that at the time of discharge I will be given a copy of detailed discharge summary for my future records.
74) At the time of discharge I will be given radiological films, ECGs etc. However, in medico-legal cases, this may be the property of the hospital for legal purposes.
75) In an unforeseen situation like death I give/do not give permission to the hospital to initiate the process of an autopsy. 
76) I understand that the honorary treating doctors bill their professional fee from the doctors through the hospital and the same reflects clearly in the bill.  The fee includes hospital service charges for providing infra- structure for admitting the patients. All other charges are billed by the hospital and belong to them.  There is no system in which primary treating consultant get any cut or commission for admitting their patients in the hospital.  The billing is transparent and fee charged by the doctors is transparently reflected in the bill.
77) For certain facilities not available in the hospital, hospital may get these investigations done form empanelled diagnostic centres. the billing for the same is done by the hospital. For these services hospital charges may include some extra service charges.
78) For drugs and devices not available in the hospital, for procuring them from outside the hospital may include some extra service charges.
79) It may be possible that the hospital may provide devices/implants  at a higher costs than their purchase price as the Indian Government does not have an MRP on these items. The hospital may charge more to cover the cost of expiry, inventory, accidental fall, etc.  The treating consultant does not get any money out of these.
80) I have been made to understand that medi-claim does not mean 100% cashless facility.  They may deny 10% of the cases and ask to pay the bill and then get it reimbursed later.
81) I understand that Delhi medical Council does not allow doctors to provide a medical certificate for more than 15 days without a medical reason.   The hospital may charge money for issuing a certificate and the certificate is not valid without counter sign of the medical administrator and the patient.  
82) I understand that at the time of death the hospital has provisions for cold mortuary on chargeable basis.
83) I have been made to understand about the following;
a)     Provisional diagnosis
b)     Expected duration of stay
c)      Expected approximate hospital bill (the bill may increase if the hospital diagnose changes)
d)     Possible complications.
e)     Waiting time for my reports
84) In an unforeseen situation like death the hospital may ask to clear the bill before the death certificate is released.
85) At any stage, if I am dissatisfied with services of the hospital I need to inform the treating doctors/administration the same and not at the time of settling the bill.
86) I understand the hospital bill does not cover the follow up visits for which I may be billed separately
87) Hospital bills are computerized and may have computer errors. Its my duty to cross check the bill and get it sorted out with the billing department.
88) Its my duty to sign the bill and the discharge tickets at the time of discharge.
89)  I may be asked to separately sign specific consents forms in addition for example for any surgical procedure
90) I understand that with permission I am allowed to call my family doctor to discuss the case with the treating doctors.
91) That If I need a private nurse I need to tale from the hospital route.
92) That if I need an ambulance I need to tale from the hospital route.
93) I understand the split ACs are more source if infections than window ACs
94) I understand that cross infections may occur in intensive care units
95) I understand that I may be billed for disposable sheets, disposable gowns, disposable working gloves etc.
96) I understand that the hospital follows privacy policy and any information given by me is not disclosed to any other person without my permission.
97) In an unforeseen situation if I end up unconscious, paralyzed or I am not in a position to give a consent or specific consent or statement I hereby authorize __________________________ to give consent and take all decisions on my behalf.
98) I hereby authorize __________ to be briefed about me in routine/emergency situation.
99) I have declared my past history: diabetes (___ years), hypertension (___ years), asthma (___ years),  abnormal lipid (___ years),  COPD (___ years), cancer (___ years), heart blockages (___ years), paralysis (___ years), depression (___ years), acidity (___ years),  and ________________________________.

Signature of Patient:

Signature of Spouse:

Signature of Others:

Signature of Consultant(s):