The West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission (WBCERC) and a diagnostic center case brings to light important concerns about medical malpractice, compensation, patient safety, and the difficulties patients have in finding inexpensive healthcare.
The WBCERC received a complaint from Subhra Dey that highlights the upsetting results of a medical operation gone awry. After undergoing a colonoscopy at Pulse Diagnostics, her spouse had a severe injury that required surgery to remove trash from his gut and left him bedridden. The family was forced to seek treatment at ESI Joka owing to financial restrictions as a result of the diagnostic center’s failure to provide prompt medical care.
The WBCERC’s decision to award Rs 3 lakh in compensation is indicative of their recognition of the patient’s harm and their obligation to ensure patient safety in healthcare facilities. The diagnostic center’s request for a waiver and the commission’s acceptance of installment payments, however, draw attention to how difficult it is to strike a balance between payment and healthcare providers’ ability to pay.
Patient safety is of utmost importance during medical treatments. Reports of harm or difficulties from common procedures such as colonoscopies cast doubt on medical standards being followed, healthcare providers’ qualifications, and the procedures for handling complications.
Medical negligence is raised by the fact that the patient was not given prompt medical attention after the harm. Healthcare facilities are required to respond quickly to any difficulties or unfavorable outcomes that result from procedures carried out in their care.
The family’s inability to pay for the private clinic’s treatment serves as a reminder of the financial difficulties that many patients have, particularly in the event of unanticipated medical emergency. Ensuring equitable healthcare delivery necessitates access to inexpensive healthcare services, particularly emergency interventions.
Regulating organizations like as the WBCERC play a critical role in keeping an eye on healthcare facilities, looking into allegations of malpractice, and upholding standards of care. Compensation orders and other regulatory actions are tools used to make healthcare providers responsible for lapses in patient safety.
For patients and their families, the cost of healthcare services is a major issue, especially when unanticipated medical bills arise from mishaps or unanticipated problems.
Patient advocacy must include educating the public on their rights as patients, the legal channels for pursuing compensation in cases of medical malpractice, and the significance of informed consent and collaborative decision-making in the healthcare process.
Finally, Subhra Dey’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the difficulties and obligations involved in providing healthcare. It emphasizes how crucial it is to maintain constant watchfulness, follow best practices, and take a patient-centered approach in order to guarantee that each and every person receives safe, efficient, and compassionate treatment. Although the WBCERC’s intervention and the compensation it granted are positive steps in recognizing the harm done and encouraging accountability in the healthcare system, they also draw attention to the continued work that is required to fortify patient safety measures and preserve ethical standards in clinical practice.
SOURCE:
TIMES OF INDIA
