Does a penny worth more than a human life in the eyes of doctors?

In the past, receiving medical care when you needed it was nearly impossible-like seeing a pig fly and the medical field was not nearly as advanced as it is now.Now a days the medical sector has improved itself so much that even the deadliest disease like cancer has found its treatment too!The doctors worldwide are also not sitting back in terms of getting higher medical degrees.But it is a matter of regret that,despite having a highly competent medical sector there are a huge number of patients who die untreated or are the prey of medical mismanagement. 

 

Collected from The New Indian Express

Now let's shine some light on what medical mismanagement entails! Medical negligence or medical mismanagement means a failure to take reasonable care or steps to prevent loss or injury to another person or a patient.Along with medical improvements people also sees various forms of medical negligence in times of their needs.It can encompass a range of issues, including misdiagnosis, medication errors, surgical errors, communication breakdowns, inadequate follow-up care, and more. Medical mismanagement can have serious consequences for patients, leading to worsened health conditions, complications, or even fatalities.At present the highly populated countries like india,bangladesh and many more is filled with commercial doctors and commercial private hospitals where the human life is worth much less than a penny .And speaking of public hospitals,corruption is the only thing that is available in these hospitals instead of medical facilities and doctors.The prevailed medical mismanagement often results in sad accidents,to be a bit more speculative the poor percentage of the population are more in witnessing the saddening accidents .They suffers the most because of the commercial medical system.In recent days in a renowned hospital I witnessed a heart breaking experience of medical mismanagement or negligence.

Few years back, my aunt was admitted to the United hospital,Dhaka on April 1 last year for treatment of drug- induced electrolyte imbalance.When she was admitted, she was alert and cognizant.When dissolved in water, chemicals in the human bloodstream called electrolytes (calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium) separate into positively and negatively charged ions. Human nerve reactions and muscle functions are dependent on the proper exchange of these ions outside and inside cells.On advice of a specialized doctor, my aunt was treated with immediate correction of the imbalance and was given saline infusion at the Special Care Unit and later at the High Dependency Unit. She was there for 10 days.

As her husband saw a rapid correction of the sodium imbalance in blood culture reports on the morning of April 4, he raised the alarm and asked the doctor about its potential side effects.The physician brushed aside his concerns although the patient was growing paranoid, highly disoriented, agitated and would be talking continuously for hours,reads the complaint.

On April 8, my aunt started having movement disorders. The specialized doctor was shown the increased twitching of the mouth and tremors at both hands.However, he noted that these signs were typical of a significant electrolyte imbalance. Later on we also complained that she felt like her hands were entangled in spider webs.But the doctor suggested that the patient be released immediately because long stay in hospitals may lead to pneumonia.

Collected from Corruption and Healthcare | CPD

As the condition of my aunt did not improve even after a week since release,we took her to Bumrungrad Hospital,Bangkok when they learned that she had suffered Central Pontine Myelinolysis.The condition, wherein brain cells are damaged, was caused by the rapid medical correction of sodium deficiency at United Hospital, said doctors at the Bangkok hospital.Also blamed the doctor’s inefficiency, unscientific treatment methods, and violations of standard protocol for my aunt prolonged suffering and told that she may never be like before.

In conclusion,it is important to note that healthcare providers strive to provide high-quality care, and the majority of medical professionals work diligently to ensure patient safety. However, mistakes can still occur, and it's crucial for healthcare systems to have safeguards in place to prevent and address instances of medical mismanagement. Patient advocacy, open communication, and adherence to best practices are essential components of maintaining a high standard of medical care.Moreover,it is a complex problem that frequently results from structural problems in healthcare organizations. Like in many other nations, Bangladesh is one of the contexts where a number of important factors play a role in this issue. These include a lack of resources, a lack of human resources, corruption, a lack of regulatory monitoring, unequal access, and a breakdown in communication. Delays in therapy, deteriorated patient care, and uneven health outcomes can result from these problems.