DR. K.E. PAULOSE NATIONAL VICE – PRESIDENT I.M.A (95-96) PRESIDENT I.M.A. KERALA STATE BRANCH (89-90)

IDENTIFYING CAUSES FOR EXISTING GAPS IN PATIENT DOCTOR RELATIONSHIP AND INITIATION OF STEPS FOR BUILDING UP OF HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEM BY JOINT EFFORTS BY I.M.A. AND CONSUMER ORGANISATIONS.

1.THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE PATIENT A. THE RIGHT OF THE PATIENTS  To get proper Medical attention at the earliest  Humane and compassionate treatment from the doctor  Courteous and considerate behaviour from the doctor and the medical staff  Informations in simple language about the diagnosis, investigation, treatment modalities, prognosis e.t.c  Proper follow up of treatment  Informations and methodologies from the doctor to avoid recurrence.  Referal to proper centre if necessary  Right to refuse treatment  Privacy regarding his / her ailment.  To refuse human experimentation  To get explanations about the bill  To Know about the hospital rules and regulations

B.DUTIES OF THE PATIENT  To be sober and polite to the medical team  To give relevant details about his ailments to the doctors  To take medicines and advices properly regarding diet, exercise, smoking, drinking e.t.c  To preserve the records given to him by the hospital carefully  To be clean and maintain cleanliness in the hospital  Prompt follow up.  Prompt reporting of any adverse reactions to the drugs e.t.c  Should understand that the medical team also are human beings and act accordingly

2.DOCTORS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES  To accept patients of his own capacity and speciality  To refuse giving treatment  In emergencies doctors should do their level best to safe the life without any selection of patients (Supreme Court Decision)

3.CONDITIONS WHEN DOCTORS CAN REFUSE PATIENTS  If the doctor himself is sick  If already had bad strained relationship with the particular patient  If it is not during the prescribed consultation hours  Outside calls to the places of the patients (Home Visit)  Visit during night hours  If the patients refuses to give consent for treatment, procedures et.c  Un coopetative patients and relatives  If another practitioner was consulted by the patient without the doctors knowledge  If fees is not paid properly  Doctors are not suppose to detain any patient for want of payment of bill

4.DOCTORS OBLIGATIONS  To keep updating professional knowledge, skill and competence  Act with good faith and best interest towards the patients  Don’t accept patients beyond your skill, competence and qualification.  Disclose immediatlely if something has been caused inadvertently.  Availability untill no treatment is necessary especially while treating critically ill patients.  If not available for unavoidable reasons then with the consent of the patient appoint another Doctor of same speciality in the absence.