Action against failing healthcare system : To Medical Director , RIMS

Dr. Elangbam Bishwajeet *

To ,
Medical Director , RIMS

Request :
1. Action against the healthcare system Inadequacies and failings
2. Revoke the inappropriate focus and suspension of a single doctor

We know that a lot of staffs including PGs , Nurses , blood bank , Anaesthetist and senior Gynaecologist were involved in the care of the patient who unfortunately died recently leaving 2 young children .

This happened in a very busy Obstetrics n Gynae department where most of the times , the number of patients presenting and those who are currently being admitted , outweighs the available resources and thus constantly imposed a huge challenge in proving high standard of care .

In a hugely concerning fact , this is a centre where there is huge failings within the prevailing systems e.g non-availability to even performed an ECG to even one of the institute own's professor while he was having a heart attack .

I sincerely believed in the current prevailing system with the available facilities and resources , the final outcome of the unfortunate patient most likely won't have changed and would continue to be a serious threat to all patients .

This is especially when we know that a caring and highly trained individuals like Dr Trinity Meetei has been involved as part of a team who look after the unfortunate patient . Please note that Dr Trinity himself was involved in another emergency ( life saving ) surgery for a patient when all these events unfolded .

I believed it must be very challenging for the concerned authorities to face the immense pressure from the patient's relative who just have lost one of their loved ones . I think it is natural for them to want some form of justice and an explanation for the loss of their loved one.

But the suspension of Dr Trinity and of only one doctor, as a form of delivering justice looks like a very hastily taken decision and that also in front of cameras that have been widely circulated in the public .

I believed there is no formal charges that has been given to Trinity as a reason for the suspension , which is in itself may reflect a non-thorough enquiry .

I believed that Trinity and the patient and her family , are a victim of a 'system' that needs to seriously introspect and look for means to change and improved. An honest and a serious re-examining of the current practices are need of the hour , such that no further incidences happened to patients and involved doctors who I sincerely believed have done as much as they could within the available resources and existing structure .

RIMS is teaching institute and its actions have severe implication to everyone especially to the Patients and to its trainees .

The present actions of RIMS authorities in its attempt to bring swift action to the sad incident , is instead giving a dangerous and serious picture of having victimised a 'single doctor', when many other individuals are involved and seems to have completely ignored the 'system Inadequacies' that seems to have directly resulted in death of the patient .

It is unlikely Dr Trinity and his team could have done anything differently in the 'prevailing circumstances', to improved the patient's outcome and should not seek to liable only a single individual .

If the ' prevailing system' and the same 'process of suspension' continues then it is likely for more sinister events to continue , leading to worsening of the morale of the already stressed staffs without addressing the bigger threat to everyone . This can lead to further similar incidences thereby worsening the deteriorating patient-doctor relationship .

Lets request our concerned authorities which I know has the same objective of better healthcare and better working environment for all the staff, to please focus improving education and bring changes to the existing infrastructure and avoid further harm to patients and its staff .

I hope the RIMS authorities who comprised of my beloved teachers and seniors , to please consider removing the career destroying and inappropriate suspension order to Trinity and provide ample support to him and his family .

I sincerely believed one of the best means of RIMS giving justice to its patients and its staff, is by introspecting into the current system and implementing patient-centred changes that would prevent further such tragic incidences.

Thanking you all

Elangbam Bishwajeet
Former RIMS medical student