Bangladesh: According to data compiled by Bangladesh Society for Enforcement of Human Rights (BSEHR over 550 patients died from ‘wrong medical treatment’ and ‘negligence of doctors’ across the country in the last six years. The number of such deaths was 69 in 2017, 65 in 2016, 104 in 2015, 122 in 2014, 53 in 2013 and 141 in 2014.
A large number of doctors and hospitals have been sued over patients’ deaths due to wrong treatment and negligence of physicians. Such deaths are an extreme violation of human rights as getting proper treatment is people’s rights, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Kazi Reazul Hoque told the daily sun. He also said: “Doctors are committed to serving people. If someone ignores patients, legal action should be taken against them.” Doctors and hospital authorities should take responsibilities to provide treatment for patents, he suggested.
Rights activists say doctors have now made a commercial mindset. They allege that many doctors see patients in a short time and many die due to lack of proper treatment at hospitals. The activists blame doctors’ negligence and prescription of wrong medicines for the deaths of patients. Apart from this, many doctors are not giving enough time to patients and they do not see case history of patients properly, they allege.
BSEHR Chairman Sigma Huda told the daily sun that people have rights to get treatment as per the constitution of the country. On some occasions, patients die due to lack of treatment, she added. Sigma Huda said doctors should give at least 20 minutes to a patient to know his problems. She suggested taking stern action against the doctors whose negligence led to the death of patients.
Senior Consultant Prof Dr Arup Ratan Choudhury of BIRDEM Hospital said deaths of patients due to doctors’ negligence also take place in many other countries. “There should be a proper investigation into allegations of such deaths,” he added.
