Death in hospital brings in money for “negotiators”

This is a disturbing trend in DK & Udupi districts. Birth of a new profession: Patient death- hospital bill negotiator!

When a critically ill patient dies after best possible treatment by the hospital, a team of self proclaimed "social activists" are alerted by some hospital employees/ patients relatives (obviously for a tip). 

Then mediamen are "invited" to the hospital. In the media presence "negotiators" make a grand entry, take up the charge of "reducing" the hospital charges for a fee from the patients relatives.

Hospital administrators are then threatened to waive the bill (again the negotiators make money here!)...if hospital authorities remain firm with their decision, they face vandalism at the hospital,  negative publicity over media! The booty is shared by the “informants”, “mediamen” and “negotiators”…

This trend would result in hospitals insisting on deposit money upon arrival of the patient...precious lives may be lost in the waiting period. If such incidents continue, some of the hospitals may refuse to admit the patient in serious cases fearing chaos.

Please do not make the healthcare personnel insensitive by repeated publication of such news, which indirectly is an advertisement for "negotiators".

Self Restraint by the Media: a welcome development

Finally...much awaited self restraint by the media houses comes into force...how the news channels and media houses respond to it, adhere to the guidelines? Wait & Watch!

For Aishwarya Rai's baby, 

TV channels will 'behave'

An astonishing (as per TOI report) 

guideline agreed upon by all news channels 

could forever change the way 

Indian television treats its celebrities

The self imposed guidelines are:

» No pre-coverage of the event.
» Story of the birth of the baby to run only after, and on the basis of, official announcement.
» Story not to run on breaking news band.
» No camera or OB vans at hospital or any other location (like the Bachchans' homes Pratiksha or Jalsa) related to the story. 
» Channels will only go for photo-op or press conference if invited.
» Channels will not carry any MMS or photo of the child. We can carry if issued by the family
» No astrology show to be done on this issue.
» No 11.11.11 astro shows to be done.
» The duration of story to be around a minute/ninety seconds.
» Obviously, unauthorized entry into hospital not permitted. 

Indeed it is a welcome change from "paparazzi" culture of present day media, where privacy of individuals and patients rights are violated routinely!

As a pioneer in advocating patients rights to privacy, this blog appreciates the gesture by the media houses. Hope this heralds the new era of "responsible" media of the future...

Lack of Privacy: Rajinikanth shifts to Singapore Hospital!

Rajinikanth Admitted to Singapore's Top Hospital

Singapore, May 28 (PTI): Tamil superstar Rajinikanth has been admitted to Singapore's top hospital, the Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, according to medical sources.

The 61-year-old actor arrived here today with his wife and two daughters after he was discharged from a Chennai hospital where he spent two weeks being treated for respiratory problems.

He is now at the Mount Elizabeth centre which is considered one of the best hospitals in Asia. However the hospital has refused to comment on Rajinikanth's health saying that it was not obliged to disclose the identity of its patients when they request complete privacy.

Celebrities and even common man has no privacy at Indian hospitals. Details of admission, ailment, medication used, treatment done are routinely divulged to the lay press. Even photography of patients inside private areas/ ultra clean zones (!)  of hospital are routinely permitted. Publicity hungry hospitals, doctors, ignorant mediamen, mediamen with "freedom of the press" are to be blamed for this menace. 

However good the medical care may be, if it lacks respect for patients dignity & privacy, it has no meaning. A major hospital in New Delhi lost its JCI certification for divulging a patients lab report...A bangalore hospitals divulges MRI report of a film star...CNN IBN flashes the MRI images of Gautam Gambhirs shoulder...now it is the turn of Rajinikanth...fearing invasion of privacy, he has chosen Mt Elizabeth Hospital, Singapore. Shame on Indian healthcare system...which can`t ensure a basic right of the patient...that is Privacy.