MERT – GIPA Panel Discussion (20th-21st August 2019)

A Report

Preamble:

The Executive Committee decided to step up the Public Contact Programme of MERT. It was decided to address the current burning issue of deteriorating doctor-patient relationship. A panel discussion was the preferred format. It was felt that it must be held at a ‘public’ space. Gokhale Institute of Public Affairs was the chosen partner as it held regular public discourses on various socially relevant issues. GIPA agreed to partner with MERT and was kind enough to give us the use of their auditorium free of cost. The panel discussion was spread over 2 days – on 20th and 21st August 2019.

Panel Discussion:

The Panel Discussion was entitled:

Crisis in healthcare

The Deteriorating Doctor-Patient Relationship.

The Panel Discussion  was moderated by Dr K Lakshman

The panelists were:

Dr M Maiya

Dr Latha Venkatram

Dr V Channaraya

Dr H V Shivaram

A powerpoint presentation  was prepared with 30 questions covering 4 major areas of dissatisfaction that leads to the breakdown of doctor-patient relationship. A link to the presentation is given below:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1pyAqBH5AFhnsbc9qQETWQ_3CF4XD_JrESzkVl7w4zd8/edit?usp=sharing 

Spread over 90 min each day, the discussion was centered around case scenarios exemplifying the issue in question. Each of the issues was discussed over 5-6 minutes. Two major issues – the difference between complication and negligence and ‘defensive medicine’ were discussed for a longer time.

The programme was well attended with the hall being full on both days. About 150 people attended each day. Every effort was made to involve the audience in the discussion. The discussion was lively.

The programme was videographed. Links to the videos of the programme is given below.

Day 1 – 20 Aug 2019

https://photos.app.goo.gl/3webpNvCeERf7eCG8 

Dat 2 – 21 Aug 2019

https://photos.app.goo.gl/pJTVGF451axLwxbY6 

It was heartening to see that the audience unanimously felt that the programme was useful and that more such programmes must be held on a regular basis.

Highlights of discussion

Notes were taken to  highlight the discussion points; These are reproduced below:

20/8/2019

General opinion from the audience

1. Enhance soft skill for doctors.  They should build confidence in patients and then treat them.
2. Lack of family doctors is not helping the patients. Family doctors were communicating well and bridging the gap between patients and specialists.
3. Build up a good relationship with proper communication.
4. Patient awareness has to be improved. Educate the patients at the primary level.
5. Doctors should recommend holistic medicines. Explain side effects if any.
6. Not enough is explained about surgery or even the informed consent.
7. Take the family into confidence, explain everything and definitely inform the patient about any disease.
8. For any re-operative surgery, counsel the patients and the family, before surgery.
9. Cure depends on individual patient’s physical condition, just like cars.
10. Complication vs negligence – important to know, but not easy to understand.

Closing statements:

Maiya: a) Medicine is both art and science.

1. b) Compassion and communication are both important.
2. c) There are variations in medicine. It is not perfect nor accurate.

Latha: a) Mutual trust and communication is needed.

1. b) Public should understand the limitations of medicine and doctors.

Shivaram: a) Doctor is the face of healthcare.

1. b) There are many factors in treatment / surgery.
2. c) Medical education is also changing.

Channaraya: a) There are 3 key players in healthcare – Doctor, patient and institution

1. b) Trust and co-operation is needed from patients.

21/9/2019

Audience

1. Doctors need to communicate better.
2. Use simple language.
3. Should maintain time.
4. Blood / platelet is not included in insurance.
5. Patient /family should be informed about cost increase / variance.
6. LMP is removed. LMP doctors used to be friendly.
7. Use social media to spread awareness about all issues.