Topic started by :) (@ d150-40-7.home.cgocable.net) on Tue Aug 12 14:31:02 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

I cannot believe what Indian doctors tell their patients. It makes me sick in the stomach.

Apparently it is common practice for doctors (or should I call them quacks) in India to tell their patients to get ready for their after life if they are in their 60s.

An example is a well known doctor from Salem, he apparently told a 65 year old patient (who has some BP and some diabetes, nothing major) who complained to him of some chest pain that she should mentally be prepared to make her maker since she is at that age.

Who are these clowns to decide at what age a person should die?

How many people in India have to go through this?

If a diabetic/BP patient will be talked to in such a manner, how would these doctors treat terminally ill patients?

Should such a doctor be sued?

What kind of medical practice is this? I am truly shocked.

Responses:

• From: :) (@ d150-40-7.home.cgocable.net) on: Tue Aug 12 14:31:56 EDT 2003
  
  "that she should mentally be prepared to make her maker since she is at that age. "
  
  SHOULD READ
  
  "that she should mentally be prepared to meet her maker since she is at that age.
  "
  
  
• From: Neel (@ c-24-99-73-50.atl.client2.attbi.com) on: Wed Aug 13 23:58:02 EDT 2003
  
  :),
  
  What that doctor said is stupid. It shows that he has no confidence in his skills as a doctor. However, you have given only one example but generalized millions of Indian doctors of doing this. Where did you get this information from?
  
  
• From: :) (@ d150-40-7.home.cgocable.net) on: Thu Aug 14 07:41:55 EDT 2003
  
  "Where did you get this information from?"
  
  From the patient herself. This doctor is very popular and considered highly professional and a diabetic specialist:(
  
  There was another case (also heard from another patient about another doctor in another city) who had some ear ache and was told at this age you have to expect your faculties to fail (he was 64 at that time i think). eventually it turned to be an ear infection.
  
  
• From: just looking (@ 66.9.52.234) on: Thu Aug 14 07:47:10 EDT 2003
  
  Brilliant analysis... you have heard the view of ONE patient and applied the inference across millions of Indian doctors. People should contact you for any market research...why spend so much on sampling when they can send one person to you and get a full repoirt on humanity
  
  
  
• From: :) (@ d150-40-7.home.cgocable.net) on: Thu Aug 14 08:10:07 EDT 2003
  
  Hey listen, if you are a patient who has been told this will you be doing market research or would you be nervous about your next doctor's visit. Put yourself in their (the patients') shoes.
  
  
• From: ~ (@ 219.92.215.48) on: Thu Aug 14 09:48:39 EDT 2003
  
  well said JUST LOOKING..
  i agree with you..
  
  
• From: :) (@ d150-40-7.home.cgocable.net) on: Thu Aug 14 11:33:45 EDT 2003
  
  "well said JUST LOOKING.."
  
  OK you all, whatever you say.
  
  Now, what is the solution for patients that face such discouragement from their doctors?
  
  
• From: Neel (@ c-24-99-73-50.atl.client2.attbi.com) on: Fri Aug 15 00:15:36 EDT 2003
  
  :),
  
  The patient can write about this incident to a local newspaper or may be to some magazine and try to get it published under "Letters to Editor" thus exposing the unprofessionalism of the doctor.
  
  She must also make it a point to personally tell everyone she comes in contact with about this doctor so that they won't go to him.
  
  Other than these I can't think of anything. Suing the doctor over this in India will take forever to come to investigation. But she can still do that and then make it public. That will get a lot of publicity.
  
  
• From: srivivek (@ dialup-del-203.94.241.143.bol.net.in) on: Sat Oct 4 15:08:41
  
  My professor used to say- just as you see the mistakes of other doctors in your clinics other doctors are seeing your. It taught me to be humble (and forgiving or should I say understanding). Its quite possible that patients (being lay people) quote their doctors out of context. If you are so concerned i think its your duty to get in touch with the said doctor and advise him. Thats what i do - write a polite noote in the form of a feed back
  
  

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