GROUP 12​

DOCTOR AND SOCIETY

RELATIONSHIP
 ABOUT US
ALAPATI, HIMA SAHITHYA (2201255)-
LEADER
ESCALDERON, AIANNE AGNES (2200505)
JAYASEELAN, MADHUMITHA (2200627)
GORIPARTHI, BHAVYA SRI (2200956)
PRASAD, GUDURU BADRI (2200950)
VENKAT SAI, BOWROTU (2201183)
ITAO, DON FRANCIS (2200645)
GANGWAR, RAHUL (2201254)
HANUSH, KURAPATI PENCHALA JEEVAN
(2200790)
OBJECTIVES
3

Identification of main issues and problems.

Literature Research and reveiw.

Analysis of the key issues.

Alternative solutions and options.

Observations and recommendations

summary and conclusion

 CASE
Dr. S is becoming increasingly frustrated with
patients who come to her either before or
after consulting another health practitioner for
the same ailment. She considers this to be a
waste of health resources as well as
counterproductive for the health of the
patients. She decides to tell these patients
that she will no longer treat them if they
continue to see other practitioners for the
same ailment. She intends to approach her
national medical association to lobby the
government to prevent this form of
misallocation of healthcare resources.
 5

IDENTIFICATION OF THE MAIN

ISSUES/ PROBLEMS

Main issues in the scenario are

1. Patient consulting multiple health practitioners for the same
ailment.
2. Doctor.S's frustration with this patients.
3. Doctor.S's decision to refuse to treat patients who see's other
practitioner the same aliment.
4. Doctor.S's intention to lobby the government to prevent the
patient from consulting multiple health practitioner for the same aliment

2201254
 6

LITERATURE RESEARCH
AND REVIEW
LITERATURE RESEARCH AND
REVIEW
Relevant Studies:
1)"The Effect of Multiple Provider Visits on Healthcare Utilization:
Evidence from Panel Data" by Smith et al. (2018) - This study examines
the relationship between multiple provider visits and healthcare utilization.
It discusses the potential implications of patients seeking care from multiple
practitioners for the same ailment and its impact on healthcare resources.

2) "Collaboration and Co-Management between Traditional and Biomedica

l Practitioners: Perspectives from a Qualitative Study in Nigeria" by
James et al. (2020) - This study explores the perspectives of traditional
and biomedical practitioners regarding collaboration and co-management
of patients. It addresses the importance of coordination between different
healthcare providers and the potential benefits it can bring to patients.

2201255
 8

LITERATURE RESEARCH AND

REVIEW
3. "Physician Refusal of Requested Services for Patients Consulted
by Multiple Providers" by Green et al. (2017)
- This study examines the ethical implications of physicians refusing
to provide healthcare services to patients who consult multiple providers.
It discusses the potential impact on patient autonomy, health outcomes,
and resource allocation.

4. "Physicians' Refusal of Treatment Based on Patient Behavior:

The Case of the 'Difficult' Patient" by Parsi et al. (2019)
- This study explores the ethical issues surrounding physician refusal of
treatment based on patient behavior. It discusses the potential
consequences for patient care and the need for alternative approaches
to address these challenges. 2201255
 LITERATURE RESEARCH AND
REVIEW
The article titled "The Role of Physician Communication Skills in
Patient Adherence to Treatment" emphasizes the critical role of
effective physician communication in fostering patient adherence to
treatment plans. It highlights the interconnected nature of trust,
knowledge, empathy, and communication in shaping patient outcomes
and overall healthcare efficacy. The study emphasizes that patient
adherence is influenced not only by the effectiveness of the
prescribed treatment but also by the quality of the physician-patient
relationship. It underscores the importance of trust and rapport-
building in facilitating open communication, which in turn leads to
better patient understanding and compliance.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4732308/#:~:text=Trust%2C%20knowledge%2C%20reg
ard%2C%20and,an%20impact%20on%20patient%20outcomes
2200505
Presentation title

ANALYSIS OF KEY ISSUES

1 2 3 4 5

3.Conflicting
1) Lack of 2.Delayed or
advice & 4.patient 5.ethical
understanding fragmented
ineffective autonomy consideration
care
use of medical
resources

2200956
Presentation title

ANALYSIS OF KEY ISSUES

6 7 8 9

7.missallocation collaboration
6.effective 8) legal
of healthcare with medical
communication implications
resources Association

2200627
ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS 12

OR OPTIONS
1.Improved Communication: Dr. S can focus on enhancing communication with her patients.
Educating them about the importance of consistency in healthcare providers and the potential
risks of seeing multiple practitioners for the same ailment might discourage such behavior.

2.Collaboration with Other Practitioners: Encouraging collaboration and open communication with
other healthcare practitioners may help streamline patient care. Sharing information about
patients' medical history and ongoing treatments could minimize redundancy and improve overall
healthcare efficiency.

3.Patient Education Programs: Dr. S could initiate programs to educate patients about the
value of continuity in healthcare. Providing information about the potential consequences of
seeking treatment from multiple practitioners for the same issue may help patients make more
informed decisions.

4.Establishing Clear Policies: Instead of threatening patients, Dr. S can establish clear policies
regarding the acceptance of patients who have consulted other practitioners. Communicating
these policies to patients transparently and proactively may reduce the likelihood of such
instances.
2201183
ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS 12

OR OPTIONS
5.Advocacy within the Medical Community: Instead of solely lobbying the government, Dr. S
can collaborate with her medical association to create awareness within the healthcare
community about the challenges associated with patients seeking multiple consultations. This
may lead to industry-wide discussions and potential solutions.

6.Government Liaison for Health Policies: While lobbying is one approach, Dr. S can actively
engage with government health agencies to discuss policy changes that could address the issue.
Providing data on the impact of patients seeking multiple consultations may support her case
for policy reforms.

7.Telemedicine and Integrated Health Records: Exploring telemedicine options and promoting
the use of integrated health records could enhance the continuity of care. This would allow
healthcare providers to access a patient's complete medical history, reducing the need for
repeated consultations.

8.Patient Counseling Services: Dr. S can incorporate counseling services into her practice to
understand the underlying reasons why patients seek multiple consultations. Addressing
patients' concerns and providing emotional support may contribute to better adherence to a
single healthcare provider.
2200950
Presentation title 13

OBSERVATIONS
1. Dr. S is right —true, the patients might be talking with another healthcare worker from another hospital
or outside of the hospital (if the healthcare worker was a friend), which wouldn’t affect Dr.
to be concerned
S or her hospital’s resources, so there would be no financial cost for her hospital, but it
about her would still affect her time (which could be dedicated to patients other than them) and the
patients behavior other hospital’s resources (which could be given to another patient) since diagnosis or
checkups still drown out resources.Thus, what they
are doing still affects society as a whole.

As a whole, the problem is societal, since it affects her, the patient, the other
2. Dr. S was right healthcare workers,and potential patients, so she needed help from an organization that
could implement policies that she wanted
to approach medical (i.e., prevention of misallocation of resources). She was right to acknowledge the
institutions about systemic nature of the problem and the importance of instituting policies that promote
the optimal allocation of healthcare resources. This approach can help create a more
this problem.
organized and efficient
healthcare system.
2200645
 OBSERVATIONS
while Dr. S was right to be
3. Dr. S's not concerned and was right in approaching the medical institution, she still hasn't told them why
talking to the their behavior was wrong; if she would, then she would be cautious in doing so, since patients
can be irrational, and she might need to explain why she refuses to see them or why their
patients about behavior was wrong in a careful manner and way they would understand—she also needs to
emphasize that this is for their best interest and for the others (i.e., the potential patients).
their behaviors Dr. S might emphasize the importance of continuity of care and the implications of fragmented
healthcare. Educating patients about these aspects can empower them to make more informed
decisions about their healthcare, potentially reducing their inclination to seek multiple opinions.

while Dr. S is concerned about the misuse of healthcare resources, it's important to
balance that with patient autonomy. Some patients may
4. The Patient’s have valid reasons for seeking multiple opinions, such as seeking a second opinion for a
Autonomy or complex medical condition. To Dr. S should consider a case-by-case assessment and
open dialogue with her patients to ensure they feel heard and respected while
Balancing addressing resource allocation

2200645
 RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Education
Collaboration Ethical considerations
Patient Education: Instead of
Collaboration: Dr. S can foster Ethical Considerations: Dr. S
refusing treatment, Dr. S could
collaboration with other should be mindful of ethical
consider educating her patients
healthcare practitioners. This standards in healthcare. Refusing
about the importance of
way, she can coordinate care for treatment should be a last resort
consistency in healthcare and the
patients and ensure a more and should only be considered
potential risks of multiple
streamlined and effective after careful ethical and legal
consultations for the same
approach to their health issues. considerations.
ailment. Providing clear
information may lead to better
patient compliance. 2200790
 RECOMMENDATIONS

Beneficence
Beneficence: means to do good-to practice
kindness, generosity, and charity toward
others. It means actively promoting and
safeguarding the well-being of others because
it is morally right and because you care.
Patient-Centered Approach: Always keep the
well-being of the patient at the center of any
decision. Ensure that the proposed changes
don't compromise patient access to healthcare
or their right to choose their healthcare
providers
2200790
summary
Presentation title 15

In conclusion,
• Dr. S was right to be alarmed by her patients’ tendency to seek multiple
conclusions for the same ailments (even if done outside her hospital). It can
strain resources and time and not only affect healthcare workers themselves but
the whole healthcare system.

• Dr. S’s decision to engage medical institutions and lobby the government was
the right and proactive approach. It addressed the problem at a systemic level
and acknowledged the systemic nature of the problem. IT emphasized the
importance of implementing policies that promote the optimal allocation of
resources.
summary 15

From WMA:
• “One way that physicians can exercise their responsibility for
the allocation of resources is by avoiding wasteful and
inefficient practices, even when patients request them.”
• “Physicians are responsible not just for their own patients
but, to acertain extent, for others as well. ”
• “Physicians have a responsibility to advocate for expansion of
these resources where they are insufficient to meet patient
needs.”
THANK YOU
FOR
LISTENING