Consultant insists he never refused treatment

Mr. Richard Wismayer Specialist Trainee and Unievsrity Lecturer

Aug 5th 2009, 13:14

Sir,

I shall not go into the merits of this case however allow me to explain what I believe will form the legacy of the 21st century surgeon. This legacy will be shaped during a surgical career that will have embraced six surgical competencies which include patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning, communication skills, professionalism and system-based practice.

Interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate are heavily grounded in the surgeons' ability to transmit the fact that he or she is a caring doctor who is willing to spend time with the patient.

Surgeons' must let their patient know whta they care by patiently listening, prompting questions and explaining in layman's language the pros and cons of surgical intervention.
I recognize the importance of good and effective communication skills in ensuring that patients receive the highest possible quality of care.

Communication skills are enjoying an increasing high profile across surgical training, medical education and standard setting in surgical curricula worldwide.

As surgeons' we must never forget that patients do not care how much you know until they know hoe much you care.

Having said all this from my personal observations whilst working with Mr. Massimo Abela he always communicated efficiently.

Gianni Xuereb

Jul 9th 2009, 10:01

@Alfred Barbara...

exactly what I thought! Everyone has bad moments. Maybe he was tired, overstressed. Happens to everyone. A simple warning and apology from his part would have been enough, if he as arrogant at all. It's a waste of time going to court on such petty issues. OK I'll send the shopkeeper to court because he wasn't nice to me this morning.

Mary Grace Mifsud

Jul 8th 2009, 22:38

I think we should not generalize, every doctor, nurse etc etc…… are different. Patients are also different individuals with different perceptions and ideas. However I think we should thank Mr Abela and other consultants for their good work rather than complain. I think their good work (operating for long hours) is not frequently revealed. I believe that Mr Abela saved many lives and eased many patients’ pain. Keep your good work.

J. Debono

Jul 8th 2009, 21:22

@ Tanya Briffa

Without entering into the merits of this particular case, let me explain something.

The medical profession is based on EVIDENCE based medicine, that is every treatment prescribed has passed through multiple tests and trials in order to ensure its efficacy and safety.

On the contrary, most alternative medicine, is NOT EVIDENCE based. Therefore I cannot claim that a mushroom cures cancer as an alternative medicine.

I myself do not discourage people going to alternative medicine, however neither do I encourage them, nor claim that they work

Alfred Barbara

Jul 8th 2009, 20:41

Some behaviour from the consultant's part has triggered the patient to go directly to court. We're either dealing with a very ignorant hypersensitive patient or else a very arrogant impatient consultant.

If the consultant was arrogant at the heat of the moment, he should apologise to the patient, case closed and face a warning. Let's not waste the court's precious time and probably the citizen's money as well on such petty things...Get on with it people...

Danika Vella

Jul 8th 2009, 19:07

I think, that before saying all these accusations against doctors, one should try and see the whole story. the two parties are saying different things. we should wait until the ruling to see the outcome.

It is not fair to say that ALL doctors snub alternative medicines... What if THEY were never informed about these 'alternative medicines'? Would you trust them to prescribe something that they know nothing about? Medicine and Surgery are vast subjects... a line has to be drawn somewhere of the amount they need to know about.

So if they say the doctor refused treatment because the patient was being administered alternative medicines, wouldn't that be because the doctor is respecting the Chinese masseur and doesn't feel competent enough to agree or not with the treatment being given?

It does not do to mix treatments... i guess doctors should work hand in hand to ensure that patients are not being given completely different treatments by 2/more doctors... if a Chinese masseur enters the story, they might have no control on the outcome as they do not know the side effects of the masseur's treatments.

Tanya Briffa

Jul 8th 2009, 15:56

I have frequently heard of medical professionals being, not only ignorant, but also very dismissive of alternative medicine. Earlier this week I was scandalised to hear two doctors seperately telling a mother of a year old pre-term baby that they could do nothing for his cough. Relief by the use of alternative remedies and therapies does not exist for most of our doctors, they prefer to let their patients suffer than to suggest such a thing. Shame on them I say, as those people not informed or educated enough to do their own research just keep on sufferring.

Peter Murray

Jul 8th 2009, 12:18

A consultant possibly being conceived as "arrogant"-perish the thought!

MGrech

Jul 8th 2009, 10:57

I know of at least one other orthopaedic specialist who maltreated his patient, by being rude to her and asking her out of his clinic as there is nothing else he could do to help relief her pain following three failed knee replacement surgeries. Its a shame to the local medical profession!