Some senior GMC doctors reluctant to treat AIDS patients
Positive Lives India (PLI+)
Source: The Navhind Times - Goa. Monday, August, 23 - 2011,
Fear of contracting human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome while treating and operating patients suffering from...
PANAJI: Fear of contracting human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome while treating and operating patients suffering from the dreaded disease appears to have struck some of the doctors of the Goa Medical College and Hospital, who have been “neglecting” treatment to patients inflicted with HIV/AIDS.
The neglect of the surgeries of the HIV/AIDS patients is despite the fact that special kits are being provided to the GMC doctors for operating the patients and also against the Hippocratic oath sworn by the doctors while entering the medical profession on their training. The GMC receives the largest number of HIV/AIDS patients and offers treatment to them.
According to highly placed sources in the
state health department and the GMC, doctors at the premier health institution
in Goa, including the seniors, especially in a few surgical departments have
been delaying the operations of HIV/AIDS patients on one pretext or the other
thereby allowing complications to grow.
While most of the surgical departments
routinely operate patients with HIV/AIDS, at least in two departments of the
GMC, the operations of those suffering from AIDS were deferred for various
reasons and in some cases the patients were advised against going for surgeries.
“Even senior doctors were reluctant in performing surgeries on HIV/AIDS
patients,” informed a senior official.
The official lamented that despite special
(single use disposable) kits being provided to the operating doctors as per the
World Health Organisation guidelines, some of the GMC doctors were still not
ready to perform the operations. The kit includes special gloves, head gear,
goggles, shoes and hand gloves. Double gloves are to be used as a precaution
while operating HIV/AIDS patients.
The officials also informed that many a times
the junior doctors, especially those pursuing post graduate courses, were made
to examine the patients and if necessary, operate upon them. He said that
doctors could take all precautionary measures to prevent contracting the
virus.
Stating that the act of “neglecting” HIV/AIDS
patients was unbecoming on the part of the senior doctors, the official said
that seniors should lead by example and train the juniors in conducting the
operations. He, however, said that it is not only the GMC where doctors neglect
the HIV/AIDS patients but doctors in the private sector too do not treat or
operate upon them.
Another senior health official said that
refusing to treat/operate HIV/AIDS patients was unethical and could lead to the
doctors being booked under provisions of law if patients or their relatives
lodge complaint. Luckily, so far, no complaints have been lodged against any
doctor, said the health official and the GMC authorities.
The dean of GMC, Dr V N Jindal said that every
doctor was bound to treat all patients, irrespective of their HIV/AIDS status,
after having taken the Hippocratic oath. He further said that refusal on the
part of the doctors could invite legal action against them. He went on to state
that as the head of the department of surgery he had himself operated upon a
person with fully blown AIDS.
Dr S M Bandekar, professor and head of the
department of orthopaedics, said that he has been regularly attending on
patients with HIV/AIDS and even operating upon them. He said that he recently
operated upon two more such patients who were recuperating well.
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In Solidarity
Jaffer Inamdar
Positive Lives India (PLI+)
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