Dr Liz Meyer

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PROFESSIONALISM
HOW TO AVOID GETTING INTO TROUBLE
8 October 2008

• Dr Liz Meyer
• Medical Legal Consultant
• Medical Protection Society
• in South Africa

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PROFESSIONAL
WORTHY OF A PROFESSIONAL PERSON, SKILFUL OR
COMPETENT.
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THE HEART OF MEDICINE
The relationship a healthcare professional
establishes with a patient during a clinical
encounter
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THE IDEAL RELATIONSHIP

• Empathy
• I could be you

• Control
• A person not merely a patient

• Trust

• Communication

• Patient expectations

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PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL PRACTICE
Make the care of your patient your first concern
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Treat patients as individuals, respect their
dignity and do not discriminate
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Patients are people who need you!
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WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PATIENTS

• Listen to them
• Give them information in a way they can
  understand
• Respect their rights to reach decisions with you

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The times they are a changing

• Shift from doctor knows best to patients
  rights, autonomy and expectations
• Reduced clinical freedom MHC, Protocols

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The Death of Paternalism in UK medicine
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PROVIDE A GOOD STANDARD OF PRACTICE AND CARE
Keep knowledge and skill up to date
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Recognise and work within the limits of your
competence
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Seek APPROPRIATE help early
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MANSLAUGHTER

• There have been a series of these cases in SA
  many related to giving wrong drug/wrong
  patient/wrong dose. Pleading inexperience does
  not protect you in law.
• there can be no excuse for a medical man, even
  though just setting out on his career if he
  does not know the dose or the uses S v
  Mkwetshana 1965
• If he doesnt know he must consult

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MANSLAUGHTER

• Failure to call specialist
• Im not a monkey Says doctor to husband who
  was urging him to call a specialist..
• The patient exsanguinated, retained placenta
• The Dr was convicted and sentenced to 2 years
  (suspended on appeal) S v Nel 1988

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What is a good doctor?
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By marrying the applied scientist the medical
humanist
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BE HONEST AND OPEN AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY
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If you put your integrity on the line, youre
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Act without delay if you have good reason that
patients may be at risk.
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Rodney Ledward Richard Neale
Disgraced Gynaecologists (UK)
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Rodney Ledward

• Fastest gynaecologist in the SE. 7 Hyst / am
• Pressurized patients into private treatment
  into unnecessary operations
• Removed ovaries without discussion or consent
• Surgical incompetence, eghyst, cut both ureters
  repaired without urologist, perforated bladder,
  post op bleeding, ordered tests left, but
  uncontactable
• 198 Claims for damages, dozens already settled

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Rodney Ledward

• The profession has got rid of a first class
  consultant, I say that with no conceit
  whatsoever, looking in the mirror, feet on
• I have no regrets. Im a perfectly capable
  gynaecologistIve done a first class job had
  my errors like everyone else
• Mr Ledward is conceited, deluded.and
  breathtakingly arrogant. I Bogle, Chairman BMA

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Ask for help early follow professional advice
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Never abuse your patients trust in you or the
publics trust in the profession
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Make sure your examinations are appropriate
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Beware of personal body contact
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Dont bury your head in the sand!
CALL the MPS