Health Ministry to probe ‘Dr Belittle’ Facebook mockery fiasco - See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.co ... thash.SP2csdKa.dpuf
PETALING JAYA, June 4 — The Health Ministry will investigate the actions of a doctor who posted a patient’s pregnancy record book on social media after she sought treatment for a third degree tear after home birth.
Health deputy Director-General (Medical) Datuk Dr S. Jeyaindran said instructions have yet to be issued to the director of Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah in Kuala Terengganu on the next course of action against the house officer.
“We assure you that the matter will be looked into,” he said.
Yesterday, Malay Mail front-paged the mockery of a woman who gave birth at home by a doctor on social media.
Several doctors followed up with rude and demeaning comments about the patient who had a tear when giving birth and by being unprofessional, had also belittled the Hippocratic Oath.
The postings outraged mothers who prescribe to natural birth.
When asked if doctors were well-versed with professional ethics and soft skills, which are highly needed when dealing with patients in the most stressful circumstances on a daily basis, he said it was included in medical schools syllabus.
“Patient-doctor confidentiality, effective communication and medical ethics as well as other soft skills are included as part of their studies. But it is merely left as theories,” he said.
“Some just don’t take such points seriously.”
He said doctors and nurses must be compassionate and empathetic when dealing with patients.
“But because of the nature of the job in dealing with emergencies involving life, death and severe illnesses on a daily basis, some just become immune,” he said.
“They may appear to be less ‘sensitive’ to the patients and that may trigger dissatisfaction and anger. It is important for doctors and nurses to constantly remind themselves that patients are not in that ‘immune’ state.”
He also said among the common complaints received by public hospitals were rude doctors and those who did not provide details to their patients.
There were also instances where family members who were denied entry into procedure rooms became angry and lodged complaints.
“It becomes very tricky as defining rude can be very subjective. Although such complaints are not rampant, but when they are lodged, it will be investigated thoroughly,” Dr Jeyaindran said.
He said a hospital’s deputy-director would be in charge to investigate such complaints.
“After looking through the complaint, the staff (doctor or nurse) will be called in to explain their side of the story before a decision is made,” he added.
“In the event, if it is the staff member’s fault, he or she will be made to provide a verbal or written apology to the complainant. It is a simple process because usually such incidents occur because of an emotional reaction caused in the heat of the moment.”
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.co ... thash.SP2csdKa.dpuf
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Post time 3-6-2015 10:50 PM
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