In the medical drama show House, the doctor is a grumpy ass who used crazy medical methods and procedures to save his patients…most of the time.
Singapore seems to have our own Doctor House as the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) had found Dr Gobinathan Devathasan guilty of professional misconduct for using an untested experimental procedure, the Ultrasound Sonolysis, to treat an elderly woman with Parkinson’s Disease.
Funny thing is; no one is arguing about the effectiveness of the procedure. Dr Devathasan, a neurologist, had successfully treated more than 700 patients using Ultrasound with no complications and had even shared his findings of a study at an international conference. In fact the SMC’s disciplinary committee had, in its own words, said that they "reluctantly" found the doctor guilty of professional misconduct.
Dr Devathasan is now appealing against the SMC’s decision in court and even alleged that the true person behind the complaint against him was an unnamed professional rival. Whoever made the complaint against him, the main case of the SMC is that Dr Devathasan used a medical treatment that was not accepted by the profession. The fact that his patients were helped by the procedure seems almost secondary.
I would have thought the well-being of the patients would be first and foremost on the minds of the SMC, but I guess I'm no doctor. Where’s Dr. House when you need him?
4 comments:
As long as it is not acceptable, it is wrong. No experiments even if it is safe. The doctor who invented laparoscopy was very brave.
I see your point but it's still hard to think of the doctor suffering professional misconduct when he actually helped people
You did not get my point. SMC needs to deliberate carefully before passing judgement. Misconduct is a big and bad word. So if reluctant, don't use it. Fine is a fine for inappropriate actions not equivalent to misconduct
Sorry, my mistake
Post a Comment