Sir,
I would like to narrate a poignant story of a relative of mine who died after a botched up operation, post cancer, of the Colon. The patient in question was diagnosed with the cancer of the colon and subsequently he underwent chemotherapy with around eight sittings.
Initially, he lost weight and towards the fag end of the therapy, his health improved to almost normalcy and gained seven kilos weight and had a normal appetite.
Then the oncologist asked the patient to consult a surgeon in the same hospital and the surgeon recommended a surgery to remove the colon! The poor man with implicit faith in the doctor readily agreed and was operated upon. Within a few days, he developed complications in the lungs and was placed under ventilator in the ICU. After a week, the patient passed away with a staggering Rs.9 lakh bill to settle.
Now the moot point is why a surgery was recommended when the patient had responded positively to chemotherapy and was on road to recovery?
Was it not sheer greed and avarice of this hospital? In fact the surgeon candidly admitted that he should not have operated when the body was being taken out of the ICU! An innocent patient who reposed full faith in the doctors had to meet an unfortunate end. Now, if this had happened in hospitals of USA or Europe, the hospital would have been sued for millions of dollars and the Government would have taken severe action against the erring hospital.
Even in India, it would not have been possible in States like Kerala where the public awareness and reaction would have discouraged the hospitals to indulge in unethical practices. As a concerned citizen, I want to know who will tame these greedy hospitals where doctors are given revenue targets?
– K.C. Biddappa, Retd. Sr. VP, ITC Ltd.,Mysuru, 30.12.2018
Note: Cancer is a deceptive, disturbing disease. I am told by a doctor that even when it looks cured, it may manifest again needing surgery, specially in cases of colon cancer. Experience of many patients and doctors is that luck too plays a role in the successful treatment. Well, the issue of the Fat Bill is of concern. -Editor-in-Chief
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This post was published on January 3, 2019 6:10 pm