Every
patient has a right for second or third opinion. Likewise, when approached by a
patient, doctor too has the privilege of giving his opinion. Patient has the
liberty to choose the treatment from the doctor he/ she trusts.However,
patient or his relatives have NO RIGHT to malign the first opinion/ defame the
doctor on the social networking sites. It is also a punishable offence under
section 66 (A) of the
Information Technology Act for causing damage to public image.
Background:
A
patient is brought to a hospital with an ankle injury. Orthopaedic Surgeon examines the patient,
after X Ray, patient is advised to undergo internal fixation by surgery.
However, patients husband decides to seek second and third opinions, where non
operative management was advised. Upon hearing the second and third opinions,
patients husband posts the x ray with his version of the story, ridiculing the
first opinion, thereby indirectly suspecting the motives, ethics of treatment
of the hospital/ surgeon who gave the first opinion.
The
post goes viral on the Facebook (in fact patients husband runs an application
based on facebook- besides the point!), within 2 days with 22000 shares.
Question
here:
is
not about the validity of first/ second or third opinions on the patient/ x ray
in question. It is about the gross misuse of a social networking site, for
maligning an institution- hospital, defaming an orthopaedic surgeon of
repute. Sadly, Dr Attique Vasdev (Manipal University Alumnus) who was at the receiving end of the facebook
post, is not on facebook. He came to know about the post through his friends
& Orthopaedics- Manipal University Alumni group on facebook. All efforts to
post Dr Attique`s version of the incident, were promptly removed by the
patients husband.
Dr Attique Vasdev`s version:
“The patient was referred to me by an old patient and
came into the ER on the eve of 18th of November. I recommended an X-ray which
indicated a Lateral Malleolus Fracture with Syndismotic Disruption. In view of
the fact that this kind of fracture can lead to degenerative changes or painful
joints, as per the AO [Arbeitsgemeinschaft für OsteoDePuy Synthesefragen or
translated to Association for the Study of Internal Fixation ] guidelines of
fracture management for ankle injuries the recommended strategy is surgery as
the best course of action. My opinion was in the best interest of the patient,
and the patient alone. I did not at any point state whether this was a ‘grade 3
fracture’. That is not terminology we use and was not used in your case.”
Dr Ashok Rajgopal, Chairman, Bone and Joint Institute,
Medanta :The Medicity has reviewed the case and his view is as follows,
"I am honestly shocked at the contents of the post going viral. The x-rays
show a very clear indication for intervention. Anyone with experience in fracture
treatment and who has attended any AO [Arbeitsgemeinschaft für OsteoDePuy
Synthesefragen or translated to Association for the Study of Internal Fixation]
course, which is the bible of fracture treatment, would endorse, whole
heartedly, the opinion given by Dr Attique."
Medanta Medicity (post on FaceBook):(however removed
by the patients husband):
“It is extremely unfortunate that irresponsible
statements of this nature have been disseminated. We uphold the highest
standards of professionalism and ethics. Your post attempts to malign the
reputation of the doctor concerned and the institution, on the basis of
allegations that are patently false.”
