The harrowing experiences of patients landing up at Manipal Hospital in Dona Paula warrants a long overdue independent probe into the manner in which patients are being taken for a ride and financially fleeced. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane can no longer remain a mere spectator to this sad state of affairs and must crack the whip. The inquiry must encompass an investigation as to how the former Goa Cancer Society Hospital landed in the hands of these dubious Manipal fleecers.
We need to make people aware so that friends, neighbors and relatives don’t risk getting their health and wealth destroyed at this dreadful hospital. An inquiry into the misdeeds has to zero around the main accused a Cancer quack, who runs the commercial show by claiming he is a qualified oncologist though he is not, neither a degree nor even a diploma in either Oncology or Oncosurgery.
At Manipal Hospital the family of the patient is financially stripped bare and they are lumbered with massive and extremely exorbitant bills. For someone already going through the pain and suffering of illness, it is an added agony to be financially ripped off with inflated bills at a hospital lacking a Code of ethics. Concern for the well-being of patients is never there, while they merrily go all out to secure and pursue commercial interests.
Under traditional medical ethics, the guiding principle is ‘do no harm’. When this guiding principle is compromised, it is even worse when it is for financial reasons. Those in authority have a moral and civic duty to stand with those who have been directly or indirectly affected and say enough is enough. Financial exploitation of patients cannot be allowed to continue while the long arm of the law must catch up with a very slimy and unethical Manipal Hospital.
Instead of going to Manipal Hospital, a patient should be well advised to die in peace somewhere else. At least the family’s life savings wouldn’t be swallowed by this vulture of a hospital. The family will also be saved from the financial ordeal and trauma they would have to go through after losing their loved one.
