Sparring between patient parties and doctors : MMC on judgement throne
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: November 27, 2014 -

Finally the third party has arrived at the scene.

For quite a long time, it was between medical practitioners and patient parties who slugged against each other when something went wrong or anything tragic occurred.

One common argument or rather allegation of patient parties is that the patients died due to negligence of attending doctors.

The counter argument runs like this. The patients died due to medical complications under unavoidable circumstances.

These arguments and counter arguments often raged on until one party (patient parties) took recourse to violence. This is understandable given the fact that they are the victims who lost their dear ones.

These victims, when their grievances and hurt sentiments are not addressed, become aggressors targeting attending doctors or hospital properties.

In this whirlpool of tension, despair, arguments, counter arguments and violence, the truth of the matter (how and under what circumstances the patients died) get lost.

Indeed the loss of a dear one under a medical practitioner’s care is a tragedy. But keeping the exact cause(s) of death a secret is a double tragedy.

Though quite late, the Manipur Medical Council or the MMC in short has finally come to the picture. The fundamental task entrusted to the MMC demands professionalism, efficiency and sense of fairness.

They are virtually sitting on the judgment throne and even the slightest suggestion of being partial would land them in deep trouble.

Having said this, we must also admit that there is no quick-fix solution to intermittent sparring between doctors and/or hospital authorities with patient parties.

It was in this backdrop that the MMC came out with a very concise appeal to all aggrieved patient parties to come to them if they (patient parties) suspect any malpractices or wrongdoings on the part of attending doctors.

The emergence of the MMC is definitely a huge relief for doctors and hospital authorities as well.

With the emergence of the MMC, we are hopeful that the council can clear many doubts and suspicions of patient parties.

At the same time, the MMC can put many medical practitioners on the podium of moral victory when their names are cleared after investigation by the MMC.

Generally, patient parties after their dear ones have been lost, are overwhelmed by painful emotions, despair and anger.

At such circumstances, sentiments and emotions drive the patient parties and rationale takes the backseat.

In some extreme cases, patient parties went to the extent of viewing doctors as killers, not saviours. Yes, no man is perfect and doctors belong to the kingdom of mankind.

Yet, not all doctors are competent or efficient enough to fulfill the service demanded or needed by his/her patients.

Herein lies the tricky responsibility of the MMC. No sparring can be decisive until there is a judge. So judge the sparring wisely and impartially.

There should be no room for prejudice in all the activities and functions of the MMC.

The concept that groups of same professions should stick together, if applied in the functioning of MMC, would be disastrous and suicidal.

At the end, we would only say, clear the doubts of patient parties as well as the good names of doctors but don’ hesitate to take necessary action against erring doctors if they are found so.