Medicolegal aspects of practice Dr Nikhil Datar MD

Medicolegal aspects of practice Dr. Nikhil Datar. MD. DNB. FCPS. FICOG. LLB. DGO. DHA GYNAECOLOGIST & MEDICO LEGAL CONSULTANT Assistant Honorary: Dr R N Cooper Hospital Consultant Gynaecologist: Nanavati Hospital. Mumbai Director. Datar Nursing Home. Malad Mumbai Medico legal Consultant : Kaylegal (Law firm) Vice president: Association of Medical Consultants Past President: Association of Fellow Gynaecologists

Dr Nikhil D. Datar Why are we at “gun point? ” ® Society can not decide whether we are service, industry, buisness, vocation, profession… ® Society does not recognise anybody else other than a doctor in health care ® Health infrastructure is least important in country

Dr Nikhil D. Datar ® Society does not have good redressal mechanism as councils are defunct ® Excessive thrust on diagnostics and no importance to preventive health care ® We lack standardization so we can’t prove standards

Dr Nikhil D. Datar Most important areas: ® Death certificate and death related ® Emergency care ® Police procedures & criminal negligence ® Crosspathy practice ® MTP Act and PNDT Act ® Medical council regulations.

Dr Nikhil D. Datar Cause unknown Or PM mandatory Cause known surely

Dr Nikhil D. Datar Death Certificate: To Be (given) Or Not To Be (given)!!

Dr Nikhil D. Datar Death certificate ® Give it… may be sensed as “hush-hush” in the matter ® Not give it… sensed as “ended life but harassment unending ”

Dr Nikhil D. Datar A doctor can give DC: If he knows the cause of death And not otherwise

Dr Nikhil D. Datar Inform the police: ®When cause of death is not known ®When cause of death is known but………….

Dr Nikhil D. Datar When to inform police ® Death linked with abortion ® Death on operation table or post op 24 hours ® Death related to medical procedure

Dr Nikhil D. Datar When to inform police: ® Death related to accidents or violence ® All deaths related to tubal sterilizations (PM mandatory) ® When there is allegation of medical mis management (source: J. K. Mason. Edition III)

Dr Nikhil D. Datar Section 304 A: Whoever causes the death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide shall be punished with imprisonment for two years , or with fine or with both.

Dr Nikhil D. Datar Interaction with the Police ®Informing ®Police the police “Panchnama” ®Handing over the papers

Dr Nikhil D. Datar Arrest of a doctor ®PM report ®Opinion of police surgeon ®Discretion of the IO

Dr Nikhil D. Datar Emergency care ® Paramanand Katara ® Parwatkumar “Consideration can wait …. ” - National commission

Dr Nikhil D. Datar Problems: ® Poor infrastructure ® Lack of multispeciality ® Poor transport services ® Poor support from public and police

Dr Nikhil D. Datar Cross pathy:

Dr Nikhil D. Datar MTP Act & PCPNDT Act

Dr Nikhil D. Datar Every right has a corresponding duty. . This is so true …. For doctors … but not for the patients!

Dr Nikhil D. Datar