Dr Bawa Garba Case: Indian doctors need immunity while reporting adverse events

February 17, 2018
Dr Bawa Garba Case: Indian doctors need immunity while reporting adverse events
                                                                                                                                                           Representational Image
New Delhi, February 17, 2018 : The historical manslaughter conviction of a UK doctor related to a case in which a six-year-old boy died at Leicester Royal Infirmary in 2011 that found her guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence in 2015, has opened a large number of issues of importance to Indian medical practice.

One of the issues of concern is the handling of Dr Bawa-Garbas case linked to reflective writing from her e-portfolio, which was reported to have been used in evidence. Though her medical defence organization has made clear that information from the e-portfolio was not used but notes made by her duty consultant on a meeting with Dr Bawa-Garba after the event to discuss and learn from it, formed part of his witness statement.

In UK, GMC requires that all doctors in training must write reflections, especially when there are things that do not go well. This is an essential part of training and is needed to progress through a postgraduate training program. A failure to record reflections honestly could give rise to a referral to the GMC. It’s like the log book in DNB training in India.

It is an unwritten law that a doctor should avoid using patients’ names or initials, dates of birth, or “any unique condition or circumstance of that patient in a reflective log, but it is often ignored.

Also, during writing doctors should “try not to be judgmental” or say “I made a mistake, I made an error, I got things wrong”, but it’s also very important not to say in any way “I was negligent.”

Doctor’s reflections are potentially disclosable to courts, tribunals and coroners. The Crown Prosecution Service initially decided not to charge Bawa-Garba in 2012, but the decision was reviewed after the coroner’s inquest into Jack’s death and she was charged in 2014.

This issue now also has generated safety concerns. Patient safety is going to be affected if the medical profession is unable to reflect honestly and openly on mistakes for fear of being left open to prosecution; though reflective writing is not a norm in India.

The issue has raised concerns in reporting in AEFI (Adverse events following Immunization), PvPI (Pharmaco Vigilance Program of India) and Sentinel Events reporting under NABH accreditation. Unless a legal immunity is provided, based on Dr Bawa case, doctors may withhold many such reporting.

It is true that in PvPI the submitted ADR report does not have any legal implication on the reporters. Also, the patients’ identities are held in strict confidence and protected to the fullest extent. But courts can ask for the reports. There is no legal immunity for the reporting.

MCI Code of Ethics Regulations 7.14 The registered medical practitioner shall not disclose the secrets of a patient that have been learnt in the exercise of his / her profession except –

  1. in a court of law under orders of the Presiding Judge;
  2. in circumstances where there is a serious and identified risk to a specific person and / or community; and
  3. notifiable diseases.Dr KK Aggarwal

    Recipient of Padma Shri

Stay informed with the latest news from HealthySoch. Sign up today for exclusive insights and updates!

We promise we never spam!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Health Tips

Dr. T S Kler Padma Bhushan Awardee
MD, DM, MRCP, FRCP(U.K), FACC, D.Sc
Chairman – Fortis Heart Institute Gurugram

Precautions to avoid Corona Virus:

  1. Stay home as far as possible.
  2. Wash hands with soap and water frequently.
  3. Keep distance from people even your home members.
  4. Keep atleast 1-2 metres away from anybody coughing.
  5. Don’t touch your face, nose and mouth.

 

Dr. K.K Says

Archives

MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
    123
45678910
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
26272829   
       
891011121314
293031    
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
25262728293031
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
27282930   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
3031     
     12
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
2627282930  
       
1234567
891011121314
22232425262728
293031    
       
     12
3456789
17181920212223
24252627282930
       
  12345
6789101112
       
  12345
13141516171819
2728     
       
      1
9101112131415
3031     
   1234
567891011
       
282930    
       
    123
45678910
       
  12345
27282930   
       
      1
3031     
    123
11121314151617
       
28      
       
2930     
       
    123
       
       
       
      1
9101112131415
3031     
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
242526272829 
       
  12345
13141516171819
2728293031  
       
      1
23242526272829
3031     
    123
       
    123
25262728   
       
78910111213
28293031   
       
293031    
       
14151617181920
28293031   
       
   1234
567891011
       
   1234
567891011
262728    
       
891011121314
293031    
       
    123
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
  12345
27282930   
       
      1
2345678
16171819202122
3031     
    123
45678910
18192021222324
       
28293031   
       
     12
31      
   1234
       
  12345
6789101112
       
HealthySoch

Don't Miss

CMAAO CORONA FACTS and MYTH Antibodies in Newborn  

Dr K Aggarwal , President CMAAO , With input from

People with myopia three times more likely to develop Glaucoma: Doctors

Photo Caption: L-R Dr. Ram S Mirlay, Regional Head – Clinical