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Wrong Treatment and Negligence

Avalanche of complaints against doctors

Only one punished in 36years

Alpha Arzu
Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) has punished only one doctor in the last 36 years, although it has received an avalanche of complaints about wrong treatment and negligence of doctors, which sometimes even led to the death of patients.
Since its inception in 1973, the regulatory body for doctors has so far received around 2300 complaints. But the complaints except for one case are vague or lack supporting evidence, according to a high official of the Council.
BMDC has issued licences to over 39.000 doctors in the last 36 years It has the right either to suspend doctors or cancel registration for their professional misconduct.
In its lone case of action, the Council cancelled the licence of Dr Arunduti Chakma and Asit Barun Chakrabarty, a paramedic, who had been working with an unregistered clinic at JhautaJa in Conulla in 1993. A patient died in the clinic after a gall bladder operation performed by Dr Arunduti. Though the paramedic was not the right person to give anaesthetics, but he did it, as per the record of BMDC.
BMDC Registrar Dr Zahedul Haque Basunia told The Daily Star that the inves- tigation conducted by BMDC did not find any evidence of wrong treatment in this case. As the clinic was running without any kind of approval, the doctor and paramedic were punished.
He also said that most complaints against doctors were not filed properly. "We find incomplete addresses of doctors and hospitals in the complaints and even the complaints remain incomplete, which hampers the investigation."
Almost 99.99 percent of complaints were not filed properly, he said, adding that even the complainants fail to produce necessary papers. As a result, the council could not take action against the doctors and hospitals or clinics concerned.
The process of disposal of complaints is also lengthy and bureaucratic. After receiving complaints, BMDC issues show cause notices to the accused physicians. Doctor's reply is also sent to the complainant and the authorities then start investigating the case. Such process often ends up with inconclusive results.
If the accused doctor work with any public hospital, the show cause notice is sent to the director of the hospital concerned. And if that hospital forms a committee to investigate the complaint, the BMDC accepts the decision of that committee. In such cases, it cannot conduct any investigations separately.
Dr Basunia said. "Even if any doctor is involved in malpractice, we find it difficult to detect it as they hide or change the file, which can prove their misconduct or wrong treatment."
BMDC sources said the Council receives at least five complaints a month, but it fails to take any action due to reasons unknown.
Sources in the health ministry said there are several thousand offences committed by doctors and dentists across the country. But only a few offences come to the notice of the authorities.
The offences include violation of medical ethics, wrong treatment, behavioral problems, irresponsibility, corruption and irregularities. And the persons responsible for such offences must face punishment and disciplinary action such as suspension or cancellation of registration, according to the rules and regulations.
Acccording to a survey conducted by Ain O Salish Kendra, over 76 deaths were reported between January and October in 2007 due to negligence of doctors.
In early 2007, a six-member committee was formed to amend the BMDC act and to empower the council. The committee put forward its recommendations, but no action has yet been taken in this regard.