Interview questions: MPS wants restraint over charges against South African doctors during Co-vid19
Hazards, Help, Hello before ABC’s
Interview questions relating to the article:
Medical protection society (MPS) wants prosecutorial restraint over charges against South African doctors during Co-vid19 crisis.
Question 1:
The MPS said doctors in SA were concerned about prosecution should they lose a Covid-19 patient because of a treatment decision (if the virus reaches its peak and resources are stretched). As a doctor do you share in this concern?
Reply:
The concern is not about the “prosecution” if we lose a patient, co-vid related or not, even if during a pandemic or not. Every patient that passes anyway requires some form of retrospect investigation and if negligence is suspected prosecution is warranted.
Our concern is regarding the recent criminalization of the act of prosecution prior to a medical investigation/review of procedural death.
Let’s not forget that a few months ago, before the public was faced with an international medical emergency and started clapping in support of healthcare workers, two experienced doctors where “dramatically arrested”, handcuffed and marched into the back of a police van after they willing handed themselves over for a court appearances prior to a medical inquest. A female doctor was brutally assaulted by two family members after her patient suffered a fatal complication. Not to forget the numerous nurses and paramedics that were robbed and assaulted whilst on shift.
The outcry for answers, protection and clarity from the department of health and department of justice fell on deaf ears, the fall out was far reaching and it effected on all healthcare workers in South Africa.
A petition (http://chng.it/RTfWcGdJ (#dropitandwait) of almost 70 000 signatures validates some of the above comments.
South African healthcare servants both public and private have experienced an exponential increase in litigation and negative biased reporting even prior to the “arrests”, this is not just a local phenomenon it has occurred throughout the world.
With the arrival of this pandemic, our already stretched and wounded healthcare system will be tested and challenged, we barely manage holding the line locally, fighting TB and Hiv, now we are faced with a global challenge.
Moral prior to the pandemic was already low, doctors and healthcare workers across the board were being mentally and physically attacked the a country that was polarized by numerous comments and media reports claiming that we where a group of professionals that thought we are above the law.
Once the clapping stops and everything return to normal eventually will the same public, media and legal teams that we are now putting our lives at risk to help, finally understand what it takes to be a healthcare worker serving the in the frontline of disease, will they actually understand that legally criminalization Premature prosecution of
Healthcare will not benefit anyone, but the bank accounts of the lawyers that do it.
When the Road Accident Fund (RAF) went bankrupt and medical negligence claims skyrocketed because the fund ran dry. The economy is falling at present, the chance of making an income off grieving families becomes a lucrative prospect for all the dormant opportunists.
Our concern is that nothing will change, it will In fact get worse. With the predicted loss of life and difficult situation we will be faced, the amount of litigation will increase and the use of premature criminal prosecution will be used as threat this time on a pandemic scale.
Question 2:
How are doctors on the frontline coping with the stress of something like possible prosecution hanging over their heads?
Reply:
To think sitting at home waiting for a trial might be safer than going to work is a very sobering thought.
Majority of doctors and healthcare workers including myself have paused our fight for justice and fairness.
We have diverted all our energy and focus to fighting a worldwide invisible enemy that if left unchecked will decimate close on 3 million of our fellow countrymen.
I am sure after this pandemic passes, if it does, it will take far more to “stress out” the healthcare professionals that are left.
I am very interested to see when will the public, lawyers and media revert to their “pre-pandemic” phase. Just because we have answered our calling to help does not mean we have forgotten.
The thought of prosecution hanging over heads is diluted by our daily routines of decontamination, high risk patient care and Careful avoidance of bringing the virus home to our loved ones.
Question 3.
What would you do if faced with such a situation where you have to decide which patient lives or dies?
Reply:
“Triage” is an almost daily routine for any healthcare worker, we have been making these type of decisions from the invention of modern medicine.
This medical decision making is based on the current state of staff, patients, facilities, expertise , availability of personal protective equipment and the environment we are working in.
As or if the pandemic worsens, this triage threshold widens and becomes more “brutal”. We will be forced to make triage decisions similar to a war time protocol, as is being done in the u.k, u.s, Italy and other counties at present.
Question 4:
Do you believe the MPS call to the national prosecuting authority (NPA) is premature or valid?
Reply:
It is definitely valid and warranted. As the public and the economy will require major adaptation to a new normal, as will the national prosecuting agency have to adapt their current treatment and “criminal prosecution” of medical personal.
It would not be advisable to march every doctor accused by an aggrieved family member into a police van prior to a formal Health professionals council of South Africa (HPCSA) hearing and basic medical inquest.
If the current prediction models are true, there will be a mass loss of life at some stage and if the above npa protocol was used, you would either run out of doctors to man the frontlines or risk losing the remaining brave ones left.
Question 5.
Has the HPCSA provided guidelines on how to deal with such a situation in terms of Covid-19 patients and limited resources?
Reply:
The National infection control department (NICD), HPCSA and World Health Organization (WHO) have all released guidelines, these have been made publicly available, we are facing a war time protocol, with a major loss of life if this virus does spread. Members of the pubic need to read these protocols and understand what we are facing.
The lockdown has given us a fighting chance, it has allowed us to prepare mentally and physically for the looming flood.
If South Africa stands any chance, it requires every doctor/healthcare professional to be fully focused, dedicated and united to protecting our Country, we need the South African public, lawyers and media to stay home if possible , wash your hands, wear a mask and let us do your jobs to best of our ability.
Who knows we all might just get through this and become better country after it all settles down.
News article link:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/92643598408/permalink/10157639734183409/