Medical negligence plagues Kashmir

Srinagar, Feb 9: Over the recent past, Kashmir has been abuzz with reports of treatment of patients turning into nightmares for them and their families.

Many families protested while many grieved in silence.

A few cases landed into inquiries – probes that never yielded any findings of consequence. In this din, what gets eroded is the trust of people in doctors, the healthcare system, and the right to justice.

Treatment Turns into Tragedy

A family lost their daughter to an alleged anaesthesia overdose; a woman lost her uterus in a surgery that was meant for her ear; a 14-month-old girl allegedly suffered brain damage during an eye surgery; a woman died following ligation; doctors allegedly placed a ‘helper’ in their chair to treat patients in their absence… the complaints go on.

Have the incidents of medical negligence grown over the years?

Or has the reporting of such incidents become easier with the proliferation of social media channels?

Greater Kashmir takes an in-depth dive into the most burning issue concerning the masses.

Govt Hospitals Overburdened or Mis-communicating?

HoD General Surgery at GMC Srinagar, Prof Iqbal Saleem attributed the rising reports of medical negligence in Kashmir to several factors.

He emphasised the importance of proper communication between doctors and patients.

“Clearly telling a patient or his family what to expect during treatment is very important. It prevents unrealistic expectations. The lack of proper communication by the concerned medico to the patients and the attendants can lead to misunderstandings and mistrust,” Prof Saleem said.

He also criticised “fake journalism” for sensationalising trivial incidents and portraying doctors in a negative light.

Prof Saleem said that people had become increasingly intolerant, expecting 100 percent success rates even in complex medical procedures, acknowledging however, that there could be instances where the patient has not been treated with the care that is required.

He said that the absence of a visible mechanism for patients to file complaints or seek redressal in case of complications or untoward incidents exacerbates the problem.

“At the same time, we must talk about the issue of overcrowding and overburdening of the healthcare system, where the chances of mistakes and complications rise,” he said. “Finally unethical practice is sometimes being conducted, especially by medicos who are not trained to do a specific procedure.”

While the government hospitals are strained to the brink, the private healthcare set-up has at times been accused of being profit-driven, with little regard to ethics in medical practice.

Private Hospitals Defend

President of JKPHDA, Kashmir division, Faizan Mir believes that the grievance redressal mechanism was often biased, with “punishment awarded prior to the outcome of any enquiry report.”

“This led to instances where private hospitals have been ransacked, staff thrashed, and theatres sealed, without due investigation,” he said.

Mir emphasised that private healthcare in J&K was affordable, with consultations from super specialists available at prices “cheaper than a movie ticket and popcorn.”

He argued that labelling private hospitals as “profit-driven” was unfair, given their reasonable charges. “Private healthcare providers in J&K handle around 2 lakh patients annually across various specialities. Moreover, the percentage of complications in the private sector was lower than the national average, as per NIH data,” he said.

Mir acknowledged that there was still room for improvement, and private hospitals were working to reduce complications and provide excellent, affordable healthcare to the people of Kashmir.

Is redressal possible?

The nodal agency for registering complaints regarding medical malpractice, negligence in treatment and unethical practice in Jammu and Kashmir is the J&K Medical Council (JKMC).

However, the existence of the council as an investigating and executive authority is unknown to the masses.

When Greater Kashmir spoke to President JKMC, Dr Shahzada Muhammad Salim Khan said the Medical Council has a “grievance register” where people can lodge complaints against registered doctors.

Complaints can be filed on the council’s website or via email, he said.

Dr Khan said the council’s “primary work is for doctors” and complaints were usually related to their services.

“The council has an Ethics and Grievance Committee that looks into the complaints we receive,” he said. “The investigation is carried out as per National Medical Council guidelines.”

Dr Khan said that the process involves listening to both parties and gathering evidence.

“We have to listen to both the parties to ensure a fair investigation,” he said.

However, Dr Khan said that many complaints end up abandoned as the complainant does not follow up with the council.

“Investigation takes time but we assure people that justice will be done,” he said. “Mistakes will happen, but how we address them defines our integrity.”

Until then, families will continue navigating a labyrinth of grief and unanswered questions.