The Death of Professionalism

BBC News - Doctors and nurses may face jail for neglect
There are individuals and patient groups who are very pleased at this development and feel it is overdue. I personally feel quite sad about it. I and thousands like me became healthcare professionals because we care for patients and get a buzz from making sick human beings better . Wilfully harming patients is just something we would not do because we are professionals - and we are immensely proud of that professionalism.
There was a time when the default position was to assume that as nurses or doctors, you just would NOT wilfully harm a patient - that default position has now been consigned to history.

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Walking a Dodgy Tight Rope!

Doctor found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter
I do not, in anyway condone  what this surgeon did or rather failed to do - but being charged and imprisoned for delaying surgical treatment seems excessive to me.
This quote is straight from the legal website

"The test for gross negligence manslaughter is as follows:

1. Did the defendant owe a duty of care?
2. Was that duty of care breached?
3. Was that breach SO GROSSLY NEGLIGENT and showing such disregard for the life and safety of others as to be worthy of a criminal conviction?"

Answers to the last 2 queries can be very subjective.  I can think of a few cases of imperfect clinical management I have observed over the years that could be interpreted by a judge on a bad wig day as grossly negligent behaviour deserving of a criminal conviction. 

I am assuming that this doctor's case has gone through the GMC as according to the GMC website  he is suspended.  I also assume that it was the man's family (or a rival for his private practice!!) who was the driving force for the CPS to bring formal charges against him.

It is also possible that what has been reported does not fully reflect this man's actions.

Nonetheless, as I reminded an F2 doctor recently, as professionals we are walking a very tight rope every day and can never know where the gust of wind that will knock us over will come from.  There for the grace of ...... #PHILOSOPHICAL  

Every Doctor and Medical Student must see this.

I really like Abraham Verghese. He talks so much sense and he works at Stanford - one of my favourite places. He is, like Atul Gawande and others,  a 'world' doctor.  His bio is here. He also writes amazing novels.
Here he talks about a subject close to my heart. The loss of the doctor/patient relationship. It is happening in the US and sadly it is happening here.  Being able to speak with a patient and being able to examine them is a gift that we are all very lucky to have as doctors. Many seem to have forgotten this fact. Enjoy.

WHY I'D ALWAYS PRACTICE MEDICINE

Why Would Anyone Choose to Become a Doctor? - NYTimes.com
In this piece, Danielle Ofri mentions that despite the frustrations of modern day medical practice, enthusiastic medical students make it worthwhile for her. For me it's the grateful patient whose life you have saved or who has been relieved of severe dyspnoea or severe angina - a patient's gratitude reminds me how lucky I am to be a doctor.

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