Analysis | Doctor-patient relationship has seen better days

In light of current social debates that were inflamed by a recent court conviction for medical malpractice, the monthly “Civic Roundtable” event led by scholar and civic group leader Agnes Lam has changed discussion around doctor-patient conflicts into demands for reform of the local medical system.
The event presented the perspectives of a doctor, patient, lawyer and lawmakers, where attention was drawn to the drafting of medical accident legislation, credibility of dispute adjudication bodies, insurance for doctors, as well as society’s lack of trust for medical professionals.
“We haven’t seen the government publicly take any measures to improve doctor-patient relationships so far. Meanwhile, the debate on medical accident legislation is still ongoing, focusing on whether the appraisal committee should invite experts from other places to guarantee the appraisal to be fair and professional,” Ms Lam told the media.
Lawyer Hong Weng Kuan added that the legal sector looks forward to the specialized new law being enacted so that it can be used as a reference when medical disputes occur. Meanwhile, lawmaker Wong Kit Cheng, also a hospital nursing staff member, suggested that avoiding legal action through an effective conciliation center could minimize the hurt to both doctors and patients.
Chui Sai Peng indicated that Macau’s current legal system has provided a certain amount of protection to medical accident victims, but citizens still lack confidence in it. He stressed that before the medical accident law is legislated, the solution to adjudicating medical incidents lies in increasing the credibility of the appeal and appraisal bodies.
As to whether problems can be solved after a law is put into place, or whether the solution requires medical system reform, Agnes Lam indicated that “in fact, there are many blanks in Macau’s medical system to be filled, for example a mechanism to resolve doctor and patients’ opposition.”
Likewise, doctor Chu Jinge acknowledged that Macau’s medical services staff lack overall experience due to the constraints of being in a smaller city. He suggested that the public need to manage their expectations where local doctors are no longer judged in the same way as they would in a high-level medical institution.
Nevertheless the legislation will not be able to solve all of the problems related to medical services as ethical questions still remain. Doctors cannot regard patients as consumers, as that goes against medical ethics. “A doctor-patient relationship is collaborative with their common enemy being the disease; they must trust each other, and the best solution is through good communication,” suggested Chu.