The decision of Vadodara gynaecologist Dr. Rajesh Parikh to deny treatment to a pregnant woman in her thirties has recently sparked a heated online controversy. The patient's stubbornness in ignoring medical advice to conduct necessary testing led Dr. Parikh to hold firm in his decision and put professional ethics ahead of accommodating the patient.
Dr. Parikh brought up one important aspect of the doctor-patient relationship in his writings: the doctor's right to refuse treatment under specific conditions. He made a valid point when he said that doctors have the same right as patients to refuse treatment if they feel the patient's options do not align with medical best practices.
The main problem for Dr. Parikh was the patient's refusal to undergo a key diagnostic procedure, the NT scan and double marker test. In order to make educated decisions and intervene quickly in cases of common chromosomal abnormalities in foetuses, these tests are crucial, the doctor expressed.
Dr. Parikh's sincere efforts to convince were fruitless because the patient continued to seek guidance from sources other than medical professionals. In this difficult situation, Dr. Parikh had to make a difficult ethical and professional decision. She decided to discontinue therapy and suggest that the patient find a doctor who shares her values.
As a result, many perspectives emerged from different people, as a few questioned the sufficiency of Dr. Parikh's approach and pushed for more empathy and communication with the patient, while others praised him for maintaining medical standards and establishing professional limits.
The post generated a mixed response from internet users, with some praising Dr. Parikh for standing his ground and others criticising him for not being more understanding. Some have argued that Dr. Parikh should have done more to allay the patient's fears, such as clearing up any confusion over the importance or expense of the testing. However, Dr. Parikh remained steadfast, asserting that prioritizing patients' rights should not compromise the health of both patients and doctors.
However, Dr. Parikh maintained that he made the right decision by refusing treatment and emphasised the importance of doctors protecting themselves from legal consequences. He advised other doctors to be firm in their decisions and document everything that happens during patient interactions.
Just as patients have a right to choose their doctors, doctors have the right to refuse treatment, except in emergencies. I turned away a pregnant patient in her 30s who, ignoring medical advice, refused an NT scan and double marker test (crucial to rule out common chromosomal…
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