jiafm, 2010-32(2) april-june. - forensic medicine

J Indian Acad Forensic Med, 32(2) ISSN 0971-0973Original research paperMedical Ethics, Duties & Medical NegligenceAwareness among the Practitioners in a Teaching Medical College,Hospital-A Survey*Dr.Shreemanta Kumar DashAbstractThere is Growing public awareness regarding the ethical conduct of medical practitioners, and complaintsagainst physicians appear to be escalating. The changing doctor-patient relationship and commercialization ofmodern medical practice has affected the practice of medicine.This study aimed to assess the knowledge of, and attitudes to, medical ethics among doctors in the KalingaInstitute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Bhubaneswar, Orissa. A self-administered structured questionnaire wasdistributed to all doctors; a total 120 numbers of practitioners of various clinical departments participated. 90% ofthe total participants were well aware about medico legal cases. All the participants advocated for an ethical practicebut 12% of them practice as per the demand of the situation.68% of the participants expressed that dichotomy shouldnot be a part of medical practice. Only 52% of the respondents are aware of the MCI code of medical ethics 2002and 57% knows the role of ethical committee in their institute. Majority, 88% of them expressed that 15 days duty inthe department of Forensic Medicine should be mandatory during internship to handle the medico legal casesproperly.Key Words: Medical Ethics, Negligence, Medico Legal CasesIntroduction:Multiple factors - the increasing use oftechnology, paradigm shifts in patients' attitudes todoctors (and vice versa!), consumerism, litigation,and so on - have resulted in making the law anintegral aspect of healthcare today. [1] Legal andethical aspects of healthcare address some of thesenew issues. In medicine, professionalism connotesnot only knowledge and skills, but also character,especially compassion and ethics. [2]There is Growing public awarenessregarding the ethical conduct of medicalpractitioners, and complaints against physiciansappear to be escalating. The changing doctor-patientrelationship and commercialization of modernmedical practice has affected the practice ofmedicine. Patient suspects negligence as a cause oftheir suffering. There is an increasing trend ofmedical litigation by unsatisfied patients.Corresponding Author:Dr.Shreemanta Kumar Dash*Associate ProfessorDeptt. of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology,Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, KIIT,Campus-5, Patia, Bhubaneswar, Orissa 751024E-mail- kumardash2005@gmail.comMob.No. + 91 9438619421The recent increase in litigation againstdoctors is an issue of immediate concern. [3] Thereasons for these are social, economic, professionaland judicial. Social factors include increasing mediaawareness about medical facts and fallacies,professional accountability, and rights of patients interms of information, decision-making and assessingoutcomes. Negative publicity in the media about theprofession has done further damage. Moreover,doctor-patient confrontations have been increasing inthe recent past.Doctors should familiarize themselves withthe regulations and laws that concern their practice.Doctors have several ethical, moral and legalobligations in their duties. It is therefore veryimportant that every doctor understands the nature ofthese obligations and then fulfills these obligations tothe best of their ability. [4]Why this study?Ignorance of law is no excuse for violating it.It is duty of everyone to know the law whichconcerns him or her. Nowadays practicing medicineis hazardous & risky. Mutual faith replaced withmutual suspicion. This study was taken up to assessthe knowledge and practice of medical ethics andprofessionalism among doctors working in KalingaInstitute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Bhubaneswar,Orissa.153