Medical litigation causes serious concern to Medical profession- SLSIM President
View(s):The President of the Sri Lanka Society of Internal Medicine (SLSIM) Dr Vasantha Dissanayake said the increasing incidence of Medical litigation is a cause of great concern among the medical profession, leading to the practise of defensive medicine, costing the patient more. This has affected the quality of care and hence, the doctor-patient relationship.
Dr Dissanayake was addressing the Medical Practitioners of Internal Medicine at their inaugural Annual General Meeting, where the President of the International Society of Internal Medicine (ISIM), Prof Aul Sudoyo was the Chief Guest.
The Society was formed in March 2015, with 68 Physicians, which has now risen to 180. The Society has now been accepted by the ISIM. Dr Dissanayake said that due to increasing specialisation and over dependence on technology, as well as commercialisation of the Medical profession, inappropriate use of drugs and diagnostic technology, changing patterns of community expectations due to ready access to health care, gauging the right of partnership in decision making and increased awareness about adverse events, mushrooming private hospitals, intrusion of the pharmaceutical industry and medical insurance companies, as well as globalisation, had resulted in highly increased costs of medical care.
He added that, “The first key responsibility of a physician towards his patient is his/her clinical competence. Due to the large numbers seeking treatment, doctors are unable to devote sufficient time to the patient’s complaints and inquiries. - L.B. Senaratne