Muzzled Doctors Put Patients’ Lives At Risk
September 2nd, 2010 by users
A few years ago, an associate professor in one of the most prestigious medical schools in the country received a letter from a US health care company eliminating him from its provider network. This huge HMO from the east coast did not give him any reason for making him leave, but this doctor knew well enough that it had something to do with his public denigration about HMOs. He insulted this HMO by revealing the truth behind the way these groups jeopardize patients? health for profit by rewarding doctors who withhold the care the patients badly need and even force them to agree with the gag clause in the standard indenture documents of this HMO.
It stipulates that the physician should keep the following information confidential: that he or she agrees to never take action or speak anything that demoralizes the confidence of enrollees, potential clients, their employers, union members or the quality of the coverage. To sum it up easily, a doctor can be fired anytime he tells a patient something that an HMO would not agree on.Learn about medical recruitment Australia.
In the present medical situation, where profit is the bottom line, these policies implemented by HMOs prevent doctors from giving the real score on patients? diagnoses, prognoses and other options for cure. Take a look at this imaginary situations that could become true as these doctors’ hands are tied.
A 49-year-old lady sees a vague shadow in her mammogram results. the cancerous mass found from the examination troubled the doctor, making him want to take the examination again, just belie the possibility of a machine error in the discovery of a cancerous mass from the woman. The problem is that the HMO won’t pay for it. If the doctor tells the patient to pay for a second mammogram herself, this advice could be construed as a criticism of the quality of care her HMO provides. So the doctor minimizes the findings and advises his patient to come back in six months for another check up. Unfortunately, the six months could be very dangerous for the woman if she really has breast cancer.
to lessen the obstruction brought by the enlarged prostate, a 60-year-old man needs an operation. The surgeon is contemplating on availing the latest laser operation technique that inhibits blood loss, impotence, pain and lowers the risk of infection. However, the HMO of the patient will only help during a more invasive operation that contains more risks. A surgeon that encourages his patient to appeal to his HMO to use the new surgery option available is as good as terminated. To get a better understanding of australian medical jobs, visit their website.
A 35-year-old woman is suffering from severe depression. The woman’s doctor thought of prescribing a specific brand of medication that has few side effects and no risk of death from an excessive self administered dose. But the HMO went into an agreement that involves pushing a drug with high risk of death from an overdose as well as tons of side effects. Buying the better product by herself is encouraged by her doctor. But then once again, his mouth is shut thanks to the contract.Wisely informed patients are those who can build a much better decisions when it comes in health care.
Because of the complexity and rapid advances in medical knowledge, even the most savvy consumer will always rely on information provided by the doctor. Health care fates of the patients could fail if the physicians will not be honest with their patients. In a place like this, it is foolish for patients to think that their doctors are telling them the entire truth.
A ballot initiative undertaken by California’s nurses associations and consumer watchdog association will lead to the end of these gag orders. HMO patients can now consult their physicians through their professional associations, legislation and public education. A lot more health care practitioners must stand up and follow the footsteps of this man who was fired from the truth he spoke against the unjust policies of HMOs.He sent his contract back to the HMO but only after removing the gag clause stipulated there.
HMO gag orders contradict the fundamental tenet of medicine’s Hippocratic Oath which says that a physician will prescribe for the good of his patients according to his ability and his judgment and never do harm to anyone. It is a horror how most doctors under the Hippocratic Oath have entered into an agreement that compromises the health and well-being of his patients.
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