Medical "code of conduct"

Straits Times 13th Jan 2010

It was good news that the SIN government taken steps in updating the Changes in doctors' code of practice and conduct.

THE Medical Registration Act, strengthened on Monday with tougher enforcement and oversight, comes 12 years after it was gazetted though the period seems rather long without much updates. During that time, patients' expectations of doctors' competence and "ethical" observance rose sharply with an outpouring of medical information in books and online. Although much simplified for layman use, a lot of it comes from doctors themselves and reputable hospitals and medical schools. An impression began to be formed that some doctors here who had malpractice and other complaints made against them were getting off lightly. You see some cases of patients suing doctors but not much impact on these professionals though.  Another grievance was that complaints took too long to be investigated and results were not made public.

The new penalties and professional requirements written into the amended Act are thus forbidding, in the circumstances. Fines for doctors in breach are raised by a whopping 10 times to $100,000 ( but I think this sum is not going to hold much weight or cause any stir compare to the money they earn yearly ) and they can be suspended for longer than the present limit of three years. Most significant is a refinement of the law of evidence: Health Ministry investigators can remove documentary and other evidence from a doctor's office without notice. This will eliminate negative inferences, as the practice has been for the doctor complained against to produce the records. The Medical Council's count of statutory members and outside personnel hearing cases will also be augmented to expedite clearing of complaints. And to keep matters focused, lawyers will have a role in disciplinary tribunals adjudicating on complaints.  

Without prejudice to doctors, the majority caring of patients' welfare, the lay public will see the enhancements as an overdue balancing out. Doctors' actions undoubtedly will be scrutinised more closely and the development should properly be regarded as a social advance, of benefit to patients (their rights) and doctors (their professional standing).

The process of advancement is incomplete, however, until transparency is made an ingredient. Hearings and outcomes of complaints before the Medical Council are closed-door affairs. This has to change. Citing patient confidentiality is not as convincing an argument in serving justice, as giving cause to the unquestioned virtue of full disclosure. Justice has to be seen to be done and I think our health minister is working hard on this and have full confidence in him and no doubt about his capability looking back at his actions for the past two years on health cost and fee, H1N1, etc.

2009 Troubles after Troubles...

Viruses Attack

• Sars: Severe acute respiratory syndrome is the deadly virus of 2002 and 2003. It causes fever, headaches, body aches, pneumonia and diarrhoea, among other symptoms. It almost cause the collapse of the airline and travel industries.
Sars originates in Asia and spreads to more than two dozen countries on four continents before it is contained. The death toll: 774 people. Airline industries almost got "Killed" by this new and relatively unknown virus and the global world was not prepared when it started and no known vaccine was available at the time of disaster.   
• Avian flu: The virus, also known as bird flu, claims its first human victims in 1997 in Hong Kong. It re-emerges in 2003 and 2004, killing almost 60 per cent of those it infects. The toll has reached more than 260 people, according to WHO figures.
• The H1N1 virus: The virus is deemed a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation on June 11 this year, making it the first flu pandemic of the 21st century. At least 11,516 people worldwide have been killed by H1N1 since the disease first emerged in April in Mexico. Medical companies are in the big rush to produce the required amount of vaccines for the people and it seems this virus is not as deadly as originally anticipated.

We could see that the economy at end of 2009 is picking up some steam and 2010 may still be volatile and any such kind of "troubles" mutating into more serious consequences may at anytime cause the collapse of any industry, including the vulnerable effects created by non other than, Terrorism , which is the most "deadly virus" in human spread by "unkind" mankind.