VIEWPOINT

The News That Hurt Me!

Yash Paul

Times of India dated 9th July, 2018 carried the news "Unsafe syringes from UK made way to India: Report". These were not syringes, but these were infusion pumps. The caption would suggest that some unscrupulous person or business house had sold these unsafe infusion pumps to India. But, that is not the case. Please go through the attached news paper report prior to proceeding further.

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No responsible person would give rotten or infected food even to a beggar, so as not to cause any harm. In medical ethics not to cause harm is sacrosanct. Charity is kindness, offering help or money to those in need. Hospice is hopsital or nursing home where dying people receive special care.

The above mentioned report states that the pumps lead to the rapid infusion of dangerous doses of drugs into the blood stream. These devices have also been banned in New Zealand and Australia. In December 2011 the authorities issued advisory to the staff not to use Graseby MS16 and MS26 syringe drivers. It added: They will be donated to a 3rd World Charity. These banned Graseby syringe drivers were given to hospices in countries such as India, South Africa and Nepal.

Donors must treat people living in poor and developing countries as human beings. Any object considered harmful for their population should not be donated to other countries so as to harm their people. Was this charity carried out as a mercy for people in the hospices in these countries to advance their death by these unsafe gadgets? Donating such unsafe items should be considered a crime. But, most shocking aspect is that UK Rotary Clubs became parties to this.

Government of India, Indian Medical Association and Rotary International India should have lodged their protests with appropriate authorities. An individual's protest carries no weightage so I had written to many doctors some of them are office bearers of Ethical groups like Indian Medico Legal and Ethical Association (IMLEA), Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Health Practices (ADEH) Support for Advocacy and Training to Health Initiative (SATHI) with the hope that these groups would take up these issues, but heard nothing. May be the issue of unsafe devices donated to poor and developing countries is not worth alienating the rich countries.

-Dr. Yash Paul,
Jaipur.
E-mail: dryashpaul2003@yahoo.com