When Dolly Sen entered the emergency room of a reputed hospital a few months ago, she was expecting relief from the dizziness

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• Business Ethics
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• Case Studies
• Case (20 Marks)
• When Dolly Sen entered the emergency room
  of a reputed hospital a few months ago, she was
  expecting relief from the dizziness caused by her
  soaring blood pressure. The doctors there
  administered an emergency drug that reduced her
  blood pressure so precipitously that she suffered
  a blackout. When she was discharged two days
  later, doctors told her that she was lucky to
  have survived at all. Others however may not be
  so lucky. The drug, a short acting calcium
  channel blocker used commonly in emergency
  control of high blood pressure in India, can
  actually precipitate such a rapid fall in BP that
  the bodys normal functioning could spin out of
  control and lead to death. Capsules of the drug
  are available under brand names such as
  Calcigard, Cardules , Depicor and Depin.

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• Although the sustained release variety
  of these same drugs are safe, the
  immediate-release versions can be dangerous.
  For this reason, textbooks that the medical
  fraternity would sweat by, such as Goodman and
  Gilmans Pharmacological Book and Braun- Walds
  Cardiovascular Therapeutics, advise against the
  use of the fast-relief drug. The British Medical
  Journal says that the drug may actually increase
  mortality. The USFDA, too, warns against its
  hazards. The medical textbooks go on to caution
  that the high blood pressure should not be
  brought down so rapidly. It could trigger
  reaction symptoms and result in electrical
  disturbances of the heart, paralytic attack and
  even death. However, only the better-equipped
  health centers have started using safe options.
  In most other hospitals and dispensaries, the
  drug is in common usage. Senior officials in the
  Union health ministry say, tongue firmly in cheek
  that the drug is most suitable for bringing down
  blood pressure in VVIP patients.

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• Top cardiologists, of course, have almost
  dumped it. Senior cardiologists at Escorts
  hospital, Ravi Kasliwal says, its use is now
  greatly restricted. But some doctors might
  prescribe it if BP is very high. Now, there are
  safer options available. Another senior
  cardiologist at the All India Institute of
  Medical Science, K. K. Talwar, who uses better
  drugs, says that they try to avoid using these
  formulations considering the risks involved.

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• Answer the following question.
•  
• Q1. W.r.t the above facts, explain the various
  issues relating to public safety.
•  
• Q2. What remedial measures do you suggest to
  prevent the misuse of the BP drug?

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