It is important to recognise a deceitful physician so as to save you a lot of stress later
BY DR WAEL MY MOHAMED
Physicians have gained the term “malpractice” in the public eye, even though members of any profession may be found to have fallen short of appropriate care while doing their duties.
However, what specific obligations do academics have, and what standards of decency are required of them? Everyone, including students, administrators, trustees, and alumni, as well as members of boards of trustees and alumni, face ethical challenges. However, colleges and universities are defined by their professors.
The practise of informed evaluations is fundamental to the educational process, and this critical role is on my mind. You are a disgrace if you abuse your authority in academia. If you lack authority, you are a farce. However, a faculty that consistently and responsibly exercises authority gives every student the chance to develop an educated mind.
If you miss this opportunity, you will be disappointed, but the disappointment will be compounded if the root of the problem is professional misconduct. Professors may be dumb, but they are never dull, slothful, or unethical. They may even be brilliant and indefatigable, intellectual and saintly.
Not everyone who is absentminded is imperceptive, and not everyone who is perceptive is absentminded. As a result, you will encounter a variety of colleagues in academia: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Academic dishonesty encompasses deceptive behaviour by persons working in academic contexts, including students, instructors, researchers, and anyone else involved in academic activity.
It is important to understand that there are two primary rules to follow when dealing with academic dishonesty. The first is unauthorised behaviour, and the second is unauthorised use of another person’s work in the course of an academic assignment.
Of monsters and mentors
I have encountered a wide variety of colleagues during the course of my 20-year academic career. Prof “J” was my dissertation supervisor in the United States. I’ve had the worst supervising experience of my life. Even with the best intentions, a supervisor-supervisee relationship may fall short of the supervisor’s expectations due to unrealistic expectations, supervisors who lack the time to provide as much detailed supervision as they would like and students who believe they require it.
It was the first time in my life that I felt entirely powerless. My superiors were backed up by the university and utterly ignored my concerns, while also informing me that I was fabricating events.
I am overjoyed and grateful to have been awarded a fully funded PhD at the PSU Neuroscience laboratory. Along with the aforementioned, I believed that working in an international environment and acquiring a diverse set of transferrable abilities would prepare me for a successful career following my time at the academy.
Unaware of this, I accepted a position that, rather than advancing my professional ambitions, sapped my excitement for the subject, my drive and self-confidence. I filed a discrimination complaint against him, and it took approximately two years for me to win it and earn my PhD.
He was prejudiced and bigoted towards me as a foreign student from Afrabia. Years later, I met and cooperated with Prof “S” who as it turned out, betrayed me and even stole my money and data. Both Prof “J” and Prof “S” appear to be saints with baby faces and flawless skin, but they are scammers who defrauded me of money and data.
How to recognise a deceitful physician?
Being a good doctor requires much effort, especially in light of the current status of the healthcare system. Certain physicians, on the other hand, are plain terrible news. And, because the majority of physicians nowadays have equivalent education and certification, poor doctors don’t necessarily stand out.
The following recommendations can assist you in identifying an incompetent doctor before it is too late or before you refer one of your patients:
• Be confident of your gut feeling
Problems will always emerge if there is something wrong with a colleague. This is an instance of acute “medical burnout,” and this warrants concern. Whatever the reasons, the fact that you referred another doctor might have a positive or negative impact on your reputation. If you have any doubts about the doctor you’re being sent to, don’t offer a recommendation.
• Be on the lookout for their feelings
We strongly recommend that you stay away from a doctor who looks uncaring or indifferent. Signs of a negative attitude are evident when your doctor consistently remains chilly, rude or dismissive. When you encounter a doctor who is kind, caring, and interested, you will notice that they take the time to make you feel comfortable. Watch out for fancy offices, degrees or campaigns that could conceal a bad attitude.
• Be mindful of mistakes and issues
When people make errors, it doesn’t mean they are being careless. There is often something going on behind the scenes that they are not telling you about. If an issue like neglecting to answer calls doesn’t look severe at first and may seem trivial. However, the accumulation of little mistakes causes a progressively greater chance of a life-threatening blunder befalling you and your patients.
• Be cautious about overdoing it
Malpractice lawsuits, unskilled, and sceptical of their own medical competence might be reasons for a doctor to be hesitant to offer needed tests and treatments. There’s no reason to trust him or her. When a doctor becomes irritated when you express your worries, or show him or her your own independent research, go to another doctor as it is a very serious red flag.
• There is outdated information
Do not accept the ideas or treatments proposed by your doctor if he or she is unfamiliar with new developments in medical therapy. Newer techniques, despite conflicting data, often remain unexplored by physicians. Either way, it’s not a positive sign for future patient care.
• Lack of respect
Before choosing a doctor, think about if they respect their patients’ decisions. Is the doctor employing bullying tactics in an attempt to pressure individuals into seeking therapy they don’t really need? Are the doctor’s techniques designed to terrify the patient, or is he or she just informing the patient, “I told you so?” In order for the doctor to be really sensitive to a patient’s concerns, responsive to their questions, and confident that the patient understands their condition and treatment plan, they must be accept their fears. Do patients have more patience with doctors who show respect for their time or colleagues? If one of these answers implies disrespect, steer clear of the situation.
Many physicians provide many explanations for subpar customer service: stress from increasing workloads, limited resources (both human and nonhuman), and a barrage of insurance and pharmaceutical corporations. There is no excuse. Respect is free, and in the long term, it will almost definitely be more cost-effective.
You have made a major contribution to the medical profession on your own by steering your patients away from incompetent physicians and exhibiting the excellent physician behaviour you see as expected. Additionally, you are helping your practise succeed by guaranteeing its success. Reputations of physicians also travel swiftly. The faster it moves, the easier it is to brand them as terrible.
That is the problem since no one has said anything till now. Not a single fellow physician’s peer would dare to stand up against them. Even if you only direct your patients away, this will seldom be enough.
Disclosing the physician’s misconduct to the state medical board should help protect your patients and the community. — The Health
Dr Wael MY Mohamed is with the Department of Basic Medical Science, Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).
