Volume 7 Issue 6 June, 2017
Value of Ethical practice
It was a decade and a half ago when I started working as lecturer in psychiatry in a general hospital. I came across a graduate patient with alcohol dependence syndrome whose family was fed up with his irresponsible behavior when he is inebriated. Twice he was admitted to ER in un-conscious state. He used to fight with family members regularly. They approached me for consultation regarding de-addiction. Patient’s family somehow wanted to admit the patient by any means available and initiate the de-addiction programme giving not much regards to whether patient wants it or not. But the case of alcohol dependence syndrome and issue of de-addiction under involuntary basis somehow did not seem right to me and I insisted on talking to patient to get informed consent. As expected, patient out rightly rejected the proposal of treatment and threatened to put me under trouble if I proceeded against his wish. But I didn’t give up admitting under voluntary basis despite the resentments by family about the method I adopted. Finally after 2 days, patient agreed to give it a trial and cooperated .Next few days I spent good time with him, cajoled, explained every step we did. We became friendly with each other. Probably he remains abstinent till date. Most importantly he still greets me with gratitude on every anniversary of his admission date and every New Year. This made me realize that ethical and legal aspects of practice are not conflicting but if done in right spirit, bears fruits for long time. “After all laws are meant to be followed!”
Dr. H. Chandrashekhar, Professor & Head, Dept. of Psychiatry, Bangalore Medical College & Research Institute, Bengaluru.
