This one reply from doctors will make your heart sink – or even go kaput

Nigeria: A world leading conference highlighted a growing problem among disreputable physicians that could lead to gross misconduct charges being filed – or in some cases, gross indecency.  

Hidden camera footage presented by Medicin Sans Frontiers in Lagos showed that doctors are increasingly firing back the same questions at patients, with little regard for the quality of the queries. 

“In one case we saw a patient ask, ‘How long have I left to live?’” said Dr Benji MacDonald from the secretive medical body. “And the doctor, pointing at the patient with a pen said, ‘How long do you think you have left to live?’ – which is not what they wanted to hear. They wanted to hear months minimum. Or enough time at least to climb Mt Kilimanjaro and raise money for something or other.”

The medical org has now created a 7-point communication plan to help new and recently dismissed physicians to respond to patients with more empathy – and avoid the prospect of cash or complicated favours exchanging hands.

The problem is wide-ranging, deep-seated and a tall order, and was highlighted when a journalist asked Dr MacDonald about the initiative: “Do you think the plan will have a realistic impact on doctors’ behaviour?” To which he replied, “Do you think the plan will have a realistic impact on doctors’ behaviour?”