Technological advancements have been very vital in the improvement of medical and healthcare service provision. Medical technologies such as those used in cancer therapy, computed tomography and X ray procedure are all very useful procedures that save many lives today. However, research has shown that some of these technologies are misused just to generate income for medical institutions and owners while putting patients at a very big risk with their lives. It is because of these patient welfare concerns that patient protection plans should be implemented to curb cases of inappropriate diagnostic and treatment.
Patients should also be given full details of the procedures they are about to undergo, the effects of the procedures and the payments for those particular medical services. This will reduce cases of patients being exploited by medical staff and being given poor treatment. The patients should also be given proper protection against any procedural risks that are likely to occur. For example, during radiography, the patient should be provided with thyroid collars and lead aprons so as to protect their thyroid glands and their reproductive organs from the harmful effects of the X ray beams.
New technologies in the medical field should be proven and certified by medical departments in the country as well as be authorized to be legal by government. This will reduce cases of people being subjected to illegal medical procedures that are harmful to the human body. The patients will be sure that their welfare is put into consideration whenever they are undergoing any medical procedures.
There should also be harsh punishments to medical institutions and professionals who use medical technologies and procedures inappropriately with the aim of generating extra income at the expense of the patients’ welfare. Punishments like huge fines and long jail terms can help reduce such cases of negligence and misuse of medical facilities at the expense of patient health and life.
The hospitals, health centers, theatres and other medical facilities should be upgraded and be provided with these new technologies so as to make it accessible to all people in an easier manner. This will help reduce inappropriate use of medical technologies because patients will have options of visiting the hospitals that have the best quality facilities and ones that give cheaper but quality service. If few medical facilities have these technologies, they will act like monopolists by setting exorbitant fees for what would have been a small fee for a certain service.
The government and donors should also provide funds that will pay for certain medical technologies to be used by patients. This is because some medical procedures for treating certain diseases like cancer, cardiac diseases and medical operations. This is because they include very high costs which most of the citizens cannot afford. Therefore the provision of such services should be subsidized or be made free to the public to prevent cases of exploitation through medical technologies. In conclusion, patients should be protected from exploitation and wrong diagnoses by specific measures.
Works Cited
Kalra, Jay. Medical Errors and Patient Safety: Strategies to Reduce and Disclose Medical Errors and Improve Patient Safety. London: Walter de Gruyter, 2011.
Kasper, Dennis L and Eugene Braunwald. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, Volume 1. 16, illustrated. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2004.
