'Doctors Have Right To Refuse Treatment': Why A Doctor Declined to Treat Pregnant Woman in Her 30s
Recently, a doctor in Gujarat declined to treat a pregnant woman in her 30s because she refused to undergo tests. This incident has sparked discussions about doctors allegedly imposing unnecessary tests on patients to increase medical bills. However, the situation isn't simple black or white; there are various factors to consider and the doctor's perspective has shed light on the other side of the issue.
Doctors have right to refuse treatment
Dr. Rajesh Parikh, a gynecologist based in Vadodara, took to social media platform X to recount a recent encounter with a pregnant patient in her thirties.?
According to his account, he had to make the difficult decision to turn away the patient who disregarded medical advice by refusing to undergo an NT scan and double marker test, which are essential for detecting common chromosomal defects in fetuses.?
Despite his efforts to persuade her, she remained adamant, basing her decision on advice from non-medical sources.?
Dr. Parikh ultimately advised her to seek care from another healthcare provider.?
He justified his action by emphasising the importance of a doctor's autonomy in treatment decisions, especially in non-emergency situations.?
He stressed that while patients have the right to choose their doctors, doctors also have the right to refuse treatment, particularly when it involves compromising medical standards.
He wrote, "As a doctor and especially as an obstetrician, never ever let the patient dictate you the treatment/ management. You¡¯ll be the one facing the consequences in court, not them. Just say a blunt no and ask to seek another care giver."
Check out his post here:
Doctor responds to suspicions on test costs
Some users raised concerns that patients are often hesitant to undergo expensive tests due to the widespread belief that doctors receive substantial commissions from testing laboratories. Dr. Parikh addressed these concerns by explaining that he obtains tests for his patients at discounted rates from labs with which he has negotiated.?
He also brought up an intriguing perspective: "Total cost (of the tests) is Rs 3700. Depends on your definition of expensive. Do you know a family having a child with Down¡¯s syndrome? If yes, this cost is negligible, if no, you should be educating yourself."
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