3.DO’S AND DON’TS FOR DOCTORS

• Don’t prescribe without examining the patient, even if he is a close friend or relative (Telephone advice is an exception).

• Never examine a female patient without presence of female nurse/ attendant, especially during genital and breast examinations.

• Don’t insist on the patient to tell the history of illness or be examined in presence of others. He has right to privacy and confidentiality.

• Do not permit considerations of religion, nationality, race, party, politics or social standing to intervene between you and your patient.

• It may not be reasonable for a doctor to assume what the patient is saying is truthful where what the patient/ attendant says is clearly contradicted by the symptoms.

• Don’t smoke while examining a patient.

• Don’t examine a patient when you are sick, exhausted, or under influence of alcohol or any intoxicated substance.

• Don’t be overconfident. Don’t look overconfident.

• Don’t’ prescribe a drug or indulge in a procedure of you cannot justify its indication.

• Don’t prescribe a drug or indulge in a procedure of you cannot justify its indication.

• Don’t prescribe/ administer a drug which is banned, e.g. Analgin.

• Don’t over-prescribe/ administer: too much of the drug, too large a dose, for too long.

• Don’t under-prescribe: not prescribing the needed drug, dose is too small, length of treatment is too short.

• Don’t prescribe multiple drugs. Such prescription may be due to inability to form a correct diagnosis or other causes. Possibilities of drug interactions increase with polypharmacy.

• Don’t write instructions on a separate slip. Don’t allow substitutions.

• Don’t adopt experimental method in treatment. If there is some rationale do it only after informed consent.

• Don’t do anything beyond your level of competence. Competence is defined by your qualification, training and experience.

• Don’t give a drug parenterally if it can be given orally. There may be some exceptions.

• When you are not sure what and why to do. Consult your senior/ specialist/ colleague.

• Don’t refuse if the patient/ attendants want to leave against medical advice. It is their right. Document this properly.

• Never avoid a cal for help from a nurse on duty at night. In all probability a genuine emergency may be there.

• Never order an investigation unless the result is likely to help you direct the treatment or make a difference in what you tell a patient.

• Don’t allow modern diagnostics tests to substitute your clinical judgment. At best, they can only supplement t. Always analyze the cost-benefit ratio before rushing to get these tests done. In case a particular test had high false positive or false negative results, explain this to the patient before getting it done.

• Never label any condition as “functional” until you are as certain as possible of the accuracy.

Pages 1 2

Print Discuss Now   E-Mail