On 7 April 2013 04:22, muriel&mario <[email protected]> wrote:
Dear Netters, Today, 7 April, is World Health Day. Video Volunteers' Community Correspondent Sulochana Pednekar brings you a 3 and a 1/2 minute, video peep into the nursing care, in only one ward at Goa Medical College (GMC). RESPONSE: My dear M & M, While I understand that many ills prevail in the running of GMC, I am disappointed by this video presentation. I have a few questions and a few comments: QUESTIONS: a: What do we understand by the term 'medical negligence'? Is it the same as what we may consider as 'neglect'? b: The GMC protocol having been noted, is it beneficial or not for the patient or his/her relatives to be taught how to use the Glucometer and to administer insulin WHILE the patient is in the ward? c: As insulin normally needs to be administered several times a day (in patients with Insulin dependent diabetic patients) who else but the patient or relative is best suited to test the sugar levels and administer the insulin? d: If not taught while the patient is on the ward, where and when will this 'teaching' take place? COMMENTS: 1: It is important for 'correspondents' to familiarize themselves with the subject before asking questions of professionals. 2: Even accepting that Sulochana Pednekar was (in this presentation) a volunteer correspondent, her presentation was woefully under-prepared and the ultimate product damaging to cases of real medical negligence. 3: I have often advised that those who are unaware, should ask those who might know. 4: Much advice of this nature is available confidentially and gratis. 5: What such 'advisers' often demand from those who seek advice includes the following:' You do not have to follow the advice BUT Please be honest AND Please do NOT try to pull a fast one.' 6: The most relevant question to the 'Matron' in this case would have been as follows: 6a: " Were you satisfied that your staff trained this patient's relatives sufficiently enough to be able to administer the insulin by themselves (i.e. without real time supervision)? 6b: " Could you be held liable for any injury caused to the patient because YOU or YOUR staff delegated the task of administering a drug like insulin without adequate training"? good wishes jc
