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Journalism of Courage
As the recent ruling by the Bombay High Court on the request for medical termination of pregnancy by a mother has sparked a debate, a study by the University of Michigan says miscarriages and stillbirths takes its emotional toll on the doctors too.
8220;Nearly one in 10 obstetricians consider giving up medical practice because of the mental toll of stillbirths and infant deaths,8221; the study says.
Stillbirth is the death of a baby in the mother8217;s womb after the 20th week of pregnancy.
The study involved more than 800 obstetricians, one-third of who were thinking of voluntary retirement because of the emotional stress of caring for patients who had delivered still foetuses.
Dr Manju Mehta, professor in clinical psychology, AIIMS, says problems related to doctors suffering from stress arise only when there are complications.
8220;It8217;s part of human nature to feel that every task should be done with perfection. So when the result is not so, you tend to feel guilty. This in turn has an adverse effect on your self-esteem,8221; Mehta adds.
8220;There is yet another fear, that of being reported. We regularly hear cases of doctors being sued, and the Consumer Protection Forum giving judgments in favour of patients. Fear of being pulled to court and lack of sympathisers often leads to mental disturbance in doctors,8221; she says.
The study by the University of Michigan supports Mehta8217;s statement as it says 43 per cent of obstetricians were worried about being hauled up for legal action.
Dr Neerja Bhatla, additional professor in gynecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences AIIMS, feels that as stillbirths sometimes occur due to reasons beyond the doctor8217;s control, there may not be any medical failure.
8220;Stillbirths do not occur because of the doctor8217;s fault.
It may be due to reasons such as the mother suffering from diabetes or other diseases during pregnancy,8221; Bhatla says.
South Asian countries including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh account for the highest rate of stillbirths, 32 per 1,000 deliveries.
