KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 – The trend of taking up litigation against medical practitioners is gradually being witnessed in the country, especially involving obstetricians and gynaecologists (O&G).
Health Ministry director general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said that in the 2003-2007 review, O&G had litigation risk accounting for 26 of 47 cases, representing 55 per cent of the cases.
“The total amount of compensation paid out was RM1.37 million out of the total RM4.47 million,” he said in his keynote address at the opening of Teaching Conference in Obstetrics and Gynaecology here today.
His speech was delivered by the Health Deputy Director-General Dr Rohaizat Yon. Dr Ismail said the O&G needed to create a bond with their patients by educating and giving them pertinent information which would improve the doctor-patient bond and avoid misunderstanding.
“Even when there has been an adverse incident, taking the patient into confidence and explaining the events compassionately, truthfully and in detail, may help to diffuse tense situations. Patients should be shown empathy and sympathy,” he added.
Dr Mohd Ismail said that apart from good communication, a doctor’s competence was essential. Thus, doctors should not venture into or attempt procedures beyond their competency.
“Documentation is another issue that appears to hinder adequate assistance being provided to doctors in medico-legal cases. Sometimes, notes are incomplete.
“Because obstetric misadventures can happen at any time, doctors need to document events contemporaneously in the records. The notes should be legible and as detailed as possible,” he added.
Touching on maternal mortality rates, he said Malaysia was committed in reducing the rate by 75 per cent in 2015, in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG-5).
The ministry has been more pragmatic and set targets of slightly below 20 deaths per 100,000 by 2015, and below 15 deaths per 100,000 by 2020.
“Over the last five years, our maternal mortality rates have remained between 25 and 27 per 100,000 live births. I am concerned, as some of the causes, including obstetric embolism and hypertensive disorders, are avoidable and preventable,” he said.
Dr Mohd Ismail said, despite having comparatively good maternal mortality rates, the country should not rest on its laurels but gun for the benchmark such as Singapore (14 per 100,000 live births), New Zealand (nine per 100,000) and Australia (four per 100,000).
In addition, he said, 60 per cent of the deaths occured during the post-natal peroid, mortality rates were higher in women over 40 and grand multiparas (women who have given birth to five or more children).
“The high number of deaths during post-natal period must become the impetus for us to further improve the quality of care during the post-partum period,” he said. – Bernama
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We do know a Malaysian Chinese name aways starts with a family surname followed by the given name. Example a name Ooi Say Chuan would be correctly called Ooi or also acceptable by calling Say Chuan. Imagine the surprise when at a Hospital, a nurse shouted like crazy "Ooi Say Ooi Say Ooi Say Ooi" rudely and nobody replied. Even if that is my name, I do not recognised it SayOoi?. After a few minutes & looking around that nobody responded, I approched the nurse to check. Yes, it's for me and she scolded me for not responding and making her shout several times wasting her time. I am really puzzled what has education done to her now working in Government Hospital Sultan Ismail .... Brain Drain too?
Maybe you can do a Malay name Nor Nadia Nurul into Nadia Nor or Nurul Nadia but not for chinese names. Shame for a Malaysian nurse does not know how to call a person's name.