Better Safe Than Sorry: Medico- Legal Do’s & Don’ts, Dr. Lalit Kapoor

GOING ON LEAVE OR VACATION?    PRE-EMPT MEDICO-LEGAL PROBLEMS By Dr. Lalit Kapoor There are times when we have to take a break in our practice for various reasons and for varying periods ---whether to attend a conference, to go for a family marriage or for a well-deserved vacation with the family, and so on.     But it is prudent to take a few elementary precautions before you proceed. This will help you enjoy your break much better and ensure there are no post-vacation shocks in the form of malpractice issues.   A few examples will suffice to convey the intent of this presentation. A Gynecologist planned to attend a 2-day conference in a neighboring city. The patient on whom she had done LSCS about 5 days earlier had recovered uneventfully and was to be discharged the following morning. Prior to her departure,  she examined the patient and personally gave detailed instructions to the patient for precautions, medications, and follow-up.  The next day...

MEDICO-LEGAL CHALLENGES IN ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY© By Dr. Lalit Kapoor   We are all aware of the rapidly changing scenario of medical practice in this country. Doctors are no longer surrounded by an aura of infallibility and the expectations of the public have risen sharply in an era of hi-tech medicine. Sub-optimal or adverse outcome of treatment is not accepted easily and often automatically equated to negligence/ deficiency in service. As a result, there is an exponential rise in medical litigation, especially in the wake of the Consumer Protection Act. Undoubtedly, certain medical specialties are more prone to risks of malpractice litigation and are considered high-risk. For example, in India Obstetrics is the branch of Medicine at highest risk of malpractice litigations. Orthopedic surgery is lower down in the list though still in the high-risk group. (see chart below) Hence it is prudent for Orthopedic surgeons to be cognizant of the vulnerable risk factors. WHAT ARE THE SPE...

  FACING POLICE SUMMONS DOS AND DON’TS DR. Lalit Kapoor Occasionally you may get a Police summons due to a complaint by a patient who has suffered serious post-operative complications or by a relative following the death of a patient –operative or otherwise. Nowadays, the usual practice of the Police is to send a written summons, neatly typed on a computer in Marathi, instructing you to be present on a particular date and time. The letter does mention the name of the patient who has complained and the basic allegation e.g. having caused the death of a patient by negligence or caused grievous hurt, etc... Sometimes they summon you telephonically, in which case, you can ask them to send you a written communication.If they refuse to do this ask for the identity of the caller and even better, record the conversation. Recently I came across 2 such cases. Being summoned by the Police always generates a good amount of fear and is depressing and demeaning.   In order to mitigate...