Correcting doctors who lack care for patients

On February 17, the Department of Health of Dong Thap province organized a dialogue between the patient's family and the leadership of Dong Thap General Hospital, after the incident where people reported that security guards made it difficult for people to get in and out of the elevator and the doctor on duty was "lacking in care", causing public outrage.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Viet - Deputy Director of Dong Thap General Hospital - took responsibility for the on-duty doctor not having a harmonious exchange with the patient's relatives, leading to outrage spreading on social networks - Photo: DANG TUYET

Frustration because hospital elevators operate at fixed hours

According to information from Dong Thap General Hospital, on the morning of January 18, the general emergency department received Ms. NTT (72 years old, residing in Tan Thuan Tay commune, Cao Lanh city, Dong Thap province). The emergency department doctor performed paraclinical tests and then transferred the patient to the general internal medicine department for further treatment.

Then do more tests such as: blood biochemistry, electrolytes, with diagnosis of gastritis - drug-induced Cushing's syndrome.

While taking care of Mrs. T., Mr. Nguyen Van Nhiep and Mr. Nguyen Huu Nghia went up and down the elevator to buy milk but were made difficult by hospital security, who said it was outside the hospital elevator's designated hours.

Mr. Nghia and Mr. Nhiep used social media accounts to post a clip longer than 2 minutes, complaining about the rigid work of hospital security guards, causing difficulties for patients on January 24.

On January 25, Mrs. T.'s condition became complicated. Mr. Nhiep met the doctor on duty to ask for information and request additional tests outside the health insurance list to improve Mrs. T.'s condition.

During the discussion, the doctor on duty did not accept Mr. Nhiep's requests, but did not clearly explain the reason and had an inappropriate attitude, causing frustration for the family.

Afterwards, Mr. Nhiep requested the hospital to transfer him to another hospital but was not approved, because this was not an emergency transfer. As a result, Mr. Nhiep asked to let the patient go home, and Ms. T. passed away later.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Viet - hospital representative explains and talks with Mr. Nguyen Huu Nghia (red shirt) and Mr. Nguyen Van Nhiep (sitting 3rd from left) - Photo: DANG TUYET

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Viet - Deputy Director of Dong Thap General Hospital - said that on January 24, realizing that the regulation on using elevators was not convenient for cases where caregivers suddenly entered and exited the department, the hospital leadership issued a document to the departments to create the most favorable conditions for patients and relatives to suddenly enter and exit the department by issuing "sudden department entry cards" for caregivers to leave the department outside of fixed opening hours.

"The doctor treated the patient according to the treatment regimen and monitored the patient's progress. However, due to the lack of agreement between the doctor on duty and the patient's family, the responsibility lies with the hospital's doctor on duty," said Mr. Viet.

Mr. Doan Tan Buu - Director of Dong Thap Province Department of Health - looked at the test results of patient T. and explained the progress of the treatment monitoring by doctors at Dong Thap General Hospital - Photo: DANG TUYET

The doctor lacked a caring explanation.

Mr. Doan Tan Buu - Director of the Department of Health of Dong Thap province - said that through reviewing the patient's records, he had many underlying diseases, affected by the side effects of the drug, resulting in adrenal insufficiency, gastric reflux, and many chronic internal diseases.

"For the electrolyte test (this is also a blood test to see if there is a deficiency of electrolytes in the blood components), the hospital has performed the test 3 times. In addition, tests related to blood cells, biochemistry, X-ray, and echocardiography have been completed.

"Doctors rely on tests to monitor diseases in accordance with regulations. There is no way to save on testing costs to harm patients," said Mr. Buu.

However, according to Mr. Buu, the patient's family's request for many tests is correct, there is nothing wrong with the mentality that even if it is expensive, it is okay.

But the doctor's perspective must be standard, a doctor's prescription recorded in the medical record must be correct, must be responsible, consistent with the treatment progress, the doctor must consider and not be wrong.

The responsibility here lies with the doctor for not giving a caring and detailed explanation to the patient's family while he was somewhat unable to calm down.

Doctors are required by law to provide health education and counseling so that each family member can cooperate in taking good care of the patient and know the progress to explain to the patient's relatives.

"I would like to apologize to the family, represented by Mr. Nhiep and Mr. Nghia, for the unfortunate incident. We do not forget our responsibility as doctors, but due to the lack of understanding during the communication process, there was misunderstanding and frustration," said Mr. Buu.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chan-chinh-bac-si-thieu-an-can-voi-benh-nhan-20250217142404557.htm