This document discusses whether to disclose negligence by a medical colleague. It presents a hypothetical story of two doctors who make the same mistake of forgetting surgical packs in a patient, with different outcomes. One doctor's influential father intervenes privately to help the patient, while the other doctor is publicly sued due to the disclosure. The document argues that disclosure invites litigation, harming the colleague professionally and personally. It says the priority should be managing cases privately to help patients and avoid harming colleagues, as all doctors can make mistakes. Disclosure and rivalry between colleagues should be avoided in favor of unity and non-disclosure.

1. Debate
Disclosure
of
Negligence
of
Colleague

2. My view on this Debate is
We should NEVER

3. Let me tell you one Imaginary Story
He is Dr. X
Senior Ob/Gyn
Practicing since 30
years at the town
RAMPUR
Experienced and well
reputed

4. She is Dr.(Mrs) Y
Daughter of Dr. X
Practicising Ob/Gyn
independently at same town few
km away from his dad’s Nursing
Home.
Sincere and Hard working Doctor

5. One night at 1 AM
An unregistered Primi patient
admitted to her hospital with
prolong second stage of labor.
Full dilatation since 2 hours.
Dr. Y rushes to the Hospital in
10 minutes.
Managed the case nicely by
doing Perineal forceps.
Good cry of Baby.

6. But the Episiotomy tear was
extended deeply.
Some traumatic PPH.
She sutured very well .
Since there was some ozzing
from streched wall of vagina –
she inserted
TWO PACKS in Vagina.
All well and Dr. went home at
4 AM in morning .
She was tired and stressed.

7. Next Day Dr Y was busy in her
routine practice.
Forgot to inform the staff sister
about TWO packs kept in
Vagina.
Patient was fine in the evening
and was discharged by the
staff as a routine procedure
and ask to come after one
week for follow up.

8. After 5 days Patiend had fever
Pain and dischage
She went to Dr. Y and Dressing
was done from outside.
But she had continous fever-
Pain-Foul smell discharge..
So relatives thought to take
second opinion of Senior Dr.X.

9. Dr.X show the file of her daughter
innocent smile on his face.
Took the patient in to examination
room.
Did P/S examination.
Saw the infected packs.
Removed it silently.
Did dressing.
Gave higher antibiotics and
Vitamins.

10. Informed the relatives that its all
FINE.
Its just due to prolong labor-low
resistance of patients and lack
of proper care by her at home.
He called the patient daily for
five days –Did dressing –
Counsell her well everytime.
and All well after a week.Patient
and relatives were happy.

11. Now she is Dr.(Mrs ) Z
Sincere and experience Ob/Gyn
Practicing in same area of Dr..Y.
She had good name in town and so
naturally a competitor of Dr. Y.
A After one month of the above story
she got the ditto patient as Dr Y had.
Same treatment.Same forgotten packs
and patient was discharged.
Develop fever –and ultimately goes to
Dr.X for expert opinion and managment

12. Dr.X saw TWO forgotten packs in
vagina.
Smiled sarcastically.
Called the husband and the
Mother of patient inside the room-
showed them the foul smelling
packs and asked them –
This is the reason of fever. She
has done mistake-forgotten the
packs and that has caused severe
infection. She needs admission
and expert management as indoor
patient.

13. Patient was admitted
Pints and Blood transfusion
given
Heavy injectable antibiotics
and all sorts of show.
Patients was fine after 5 days
and was discharged.
The Bill of Doctor was
Rs.25000 which was happily
paid by Husband and thanked
Dr.X for saving the life of his
wife.

14. After one month
Dr.Z gets the notice from
lawyer about her negligent
management of patient and
was sued for Rs.5 Lakhs.
Dr.Z was depressed and
frustrated. Next few months
She remained busy with
Patients-Police-Public-Press-
Pleaders and had to go to
Psychologist for her treatment
of depression.

15. Now look at Both
Same type of patients –same
management- same mistake
but
One was HAPPY and other
one was depressed.
Who and What is responsible
for this?? is a real answer of
this debate.
One was relative – so Dr.X
Closed the matter
Other was Colleague – so
Disclose the matter.
Will WE do this – NO- NEVER

16. • Ob/Gyn is an unpredictable, risky and stressful branch.
• In our branch 1+1 is not equal to two always .It can be 0 to
11 .
• If some mistake done innocently by our professional
colleague today, it can happen to anyone of us tomorrow.
We all are sailing in the same boat.
• When we accept the patient at our hospital it is always with
full positive mind with an aim to manage them in best
possible way without thinking of the returns.
• But as we all know accident occurs with all professionals.

17. Disclosing Negligence of our
colleague to the patients and
relatives invites troubles to our
colleague in the form of litigation-
Mob violence , adverse press
publicity and so on n on….
It affects our colleagues in many
ways. Practice loss – Prestige
loss – even frustration and
depression.

18. It invites problems from Press-Public-
Prosecutor and Police.

19. How to deal with negligence of colleague ?
• As such any complication to the patients are being taken as
Negligence by the relatives which is not true.
• Lack of communication with colleague and professional
rivalry leads to disclosure of negligence.
Best thing is to inform our colleague about the case very
respectfully - and make a plan how to deal with the case.
Our priority should be that NO harm should occur to the
patient as well as our own colleagues.

20. • I represent here all my clinician colleagues who do not
know
• M of Medicolegal and N of Negligence
• But they know D of Duty - H for Humanity and
• U for Unity.

21. So in nutshell No Double standards in our
Practice .Consider our
colleagues like our own
family Members.
Good communications with
colleagues and no rivalry.
No harm to the patients as
well as our colleagues .
To manage the patient
jointly. Never to criticize our
colleagues instead HELP
them.