IMA concerned over survey on needless surgeries

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Tuesday expressed concern over a recent survey which showed that 44 percent of surgeries advised to patients by doctors were not needed.

In a letter to the Medical Council of India and Maharashtra Medical Council, the IMA said: "If the findings of this survey are correct, it is a matter of national concern but if the findings of this survey are not correct, it will cause a great damage to doctor-patient relationship".

The survey, with a data base of 12,500 patients, showed that over 44 percent of the surgeries were advised needlessly.

According to IMA officials, the second opinions which the survey quoted were given via e-mail and as per IMA guidelines, difference of opinion is not negligence and second opinion of a single doctor would only amount to difference of opinion.

"By IMA definition, the second opinion is always a peer review which must have an opinion of two or three more doctors in consultation," IMA national president A. Marthanda Pillai and honorary secretary general K. K. Aggarwal said in a joint statement.

"Various Supreme Court judgments have shown error judgments and difference of opinion is not a professional misconduct or negligence," the statement said.