When the ophthalmologists turn blind

Abstract

The cost of technology is high in ophthalmology but given the increasingly competitive environment and the social demand, there is a pressure to progressively lower the costs to the consumer. To keep costs down there is a tendency to do as many surgeries as possible in an assembly line fashion both in hospitals as well as in the charitable camps. This article provides ophthalmologists an insight into the legal pitfalls in practice of ophthalmology in India and the dangers of the constant lowering of costs of surgery as well as of free service. This lowering of costs would have been ideal in a Utopian world, but times have now changed and there is cost to be paid even for providing free service. In India the prevalent tradition of providing free service, has also resulted in a lowering of guard by the eye surgeons. These mass eye surgery assembly popularly called “free eye camps” has seen millions of people benefited. But recently there is an increase in number of cases where exorbitant penalty has been imposed by the courts, on these philanthropic surgeons for any deficiency in service, and this has destroyed the careers of many ophthalmologists. Time has now come to introspect and to factor the cost of litigation and compensations into the cost of surgeries so that we not only benefit the patients but also safeguard the ophthalmologists and help them fulfill their responsibilities towards their own dependents.

A practical model for effective eye care delivery in Southeast Asian rural communities: A proposal built based on experts’ recommendations

“…[ 9 ] Though the strengths of the temporary/makeshift center model are that it can benefit rural communities by bringing care directly to them, especially if it is solely primary eye care services where refractive correction can be provided instantly, for invasive eye care services, the surgical conditions such as sanitation, tools, equipment, and access to emergency care are less than ideal in makeshift centers, and this can pose serious medicolegal issues in some instances. [ 10 ] However, both the makeshift model, typically lacking essential infrastructure and standardized protocols, and the fly-in fly-out model, often facing challenges in sustainability and consistency, do not receive support from the regulatory system in India. This regulatory limitation is perceived to cause considerable obstacles to accessible eye care services across the country.…”

Knowledge, attitude, and practice patterns of Indian ophthalmologists regarding medicolegal issues

“…1 crore or more) are some of the aspects which can help ophthalmologists deal with the scenario more competently. [ 26 27 ] However, the sample size was small and larger studies are needed to further explore KAPP of Indian ophthalmologists in medicolegal issues.…”

To err is human, but errors can be prevented

“…Potential medicolegal implications of medical errors are emphasized in detail in the new “Perspective” section of this issue of Indian Journal of Ophthalmology and several commentaries that follow. [1011121314] It is strongly recommended that everyone concerned with safety in medicine should read the report, “To Err is Human – Building a Safer Health System” generated by the Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Quality of Health Care in America in 2000. [2] The report continues to be very relevant nearly two decades later, especially to the current Indian medical system.…”