25 Boasting in health care

The Boasting Traveller: A man once travelled overseas and visited many countries. On his return, he spoke of the wonderful things he had done abroad. "I took part in a jumping competition at Rhodes. I did such a wonderful long jump that no one could beat it.” When he sensed that some listeners were unconvinced, he said, "You ask any one in Rhodes and he will tell you it is true.” A listener retorted, "My dear friend, we need not go to Rhodes to verify if it is true. Let us imagine that this is Rhodes. Now jump and show us your prowess."

Dr Singh, an ophthalmic surgeon trained in Russia, joined a corporate hospital in India. "Revolutionary Laser Surgery for short sight! The most successful Laser Surgeon joins Hygea hospital" said the advertisements. The media sang praises for Dr Singh: "Trained in Russia. Has 100% success rate!", "One of the most successful keratotomy surgeon in the world!", etc. Without verifying the facts, myopics registered in large numbers for the latest surgery. Quite a few of them had adverse effects after the surgery. A few unfortunate ones lost vision in the operated eye. When the truth could no longer be suppressed, the surgeon vanished and the laser centre was closed down.

Comments

The health care industry boasts and promotes itself to attract clients. Some researchers boast about experimental drugs or procedures to gain fame or to get volunteers for their study. The drug industry may boast about their products to coax doctors to use them uncritically. Quite a few of the top 100 drugs sold in India do not

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find a place in textbooks of drug-therapy. Clever advertising coaxes doctors to prescribe and their unsuspecting patients to buy these irrational remedies. Millions of rupees are thus wasted.

Seeing through a boast is not difficult if you keep the critical faculties active and not get carried away by hype and false hope. The followingsigns should put you on guard:

Expansive know all posturing, Giving personal opinions than facts, Talking in absolutes and, Statements worthy of a megalomaniac.

Like the odd-disbeliever in the fable, ask for verifiable proof before accepting any claim.

In health care, boasting is harmful and expensive. It diverts the attention from rational care. Ban empty boast. The Reserve Bank of India has done it in the financial circle. Now all the financial advertisements carry warnings on the risks involved. We must similarly regulate health care advertising.

The Medical Councils can ban boasting in health care. They have a duty to protect people from continuing to fall victims to unscrupulous health care industry. It is never too late.

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