White coated corruption.
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Date
2010-01
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Abstract
This essay documents the state of the medical profession which
was once a respected line of work but today is corrupted at
every level, from medical education to medical practice, and in
both the private and government sectors. It calls for doctors, the
government and the public to act against dishonest doctors,
restore the dignity of the profession and work for the benefit of
society.
India is said to have one of the most corrupt medical systems
in the world (1).The situation has become so bad that patients
today approach the doctor with mixed feelings - of faith and
fear, of hope and hostility. This leads to a distorted doctorpatient
relationship, with high chances of exploitation both
ways - doctors may fleece patients and, if some lacunae are
exposed in treatment, patients or their relatives may blackmail
doctors (2).
Such unethical practices may no longer be cause for comment.
But there are many reports of doctors actually committing
crimes - distorting medical reports in medico-legal cases,
providing false certificates to protect criminals, sexually
assaulting their patients, and even trading in human organs (3).
It goes without saying that such criminal doctors are in a
minority. Unfortunately their number seems to be increasing.
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Mahajan Vijay. White coated corruption. Indian Journal of Medical Ethics. 2010 Jan-Mar; 7(1): 18-20.