KARACHI, May 20: Occupational stress, odd duty hours, inadequate rest and recreational activities are resulting in a rude behaviour by doctors and other paramedical staff with patients working at both local public and private hospitals.

In addition to the rude and derogatory behaviour, the doctors and paramedical staff often prescribe wrong medicines to patients, which prove fatal in some cases, a survey conducted by a group of doctors revealed on Thursday.

According to a team of doctors including Dr Shahid Ahmed, Dr Afshan Hassan and others, the administration of hospitals, especially of private ones were responsible for "yielding maximum" out of young doctors and compelling them to remain in duty for 36 to 38 hours without any rest.

"At some renowned private hospitals where the administration strictly monitors the performance of doctors and paramedical staff, the duty staff have to work for 36 to 38 hours without even taking a nap," they pointed out, saying that odd duty hours often result in doctors' rude behaviour with patients.

Their findings further revealed that doctors, performing their duties for over 24 hours without taking rest, often prescribe wrong medicines or overdose of some sensitive medicines, which sometime prove fatal for under-treatment patients.

Similarly, paramedical staff often ignore patients and their attendants' calls and remain at their respective stations in hospital wards, probably owing to occupational stress and working without rest, they said, adding that complaints of paramedical staff were more common than doctors.

"Owing to these problems, not only do patients suffer but the social lives of hospital staff are also affected as they find little time for their relatives, especially parents and children," they observed.

Identifying another problem, they said that paramedical and other lower staff, both at public and private hospitals, only take care of patients who help them financially, while others whose attendants cannot afford to appease them are given a step-motherly treatment.

"Incase complaints against any nurse or paramedical staff is lodged, the hospitals' administration hardly take action against the accused as paramedical staff have formed associations and they time and again threaten to observe strikes if any action is initiated against them," they observed.

"There are several incidents where paramedical staff, especially nurses gave wrong medicine to patients with whom they were not satisfied or those who refused to accept their demands," they added.

The team suggested that more staff including doctors and paramedical staff be employed and refresher courses be organised at regular intervals to train them for improving their relations with patients and attendants.

They also added, "Hospital staff should also be given some relaxation in the schedule of their duties besides sometime for recreation while on duty," they added. - PPI