When Dolly Sen entered the emergency room of a reputed hospital a few months ago, she was expecting relief from the dizziness caused by her soaring blood pressure.
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Business Ethics
Case Studies
Case (20 Marks)
When Dolly Sen entered the emergency
room of a reputed hospital a few months ago, she was expecting relief from the
dizziness caused by her soaring blood pressure. The doctors there administered
an ‘emergency’ drug that reduced her blood pressure so precipitously that she
suffered a blackout. When she was discharged two days later, doctors told her
that she was lucky to have survived at all. Others however may not be so lucky.
The drug, a short acting calcium channel blocker used commonly in emergency control
of high blood pressure in India, can actually precipitate such a rapid fall in
BP that the body’s normal functioning could spin out of control and lead to
death. Capsules of the drug are available under brand names such as Calcigard,
Cardules, Depicor and Depin. Although the ‘sustained release’ variety of these
same drugs are safe, the ‘immediate-release’ versions can be dangerous. For this
reason, textbooks that the medical fraternity would sweat by, such as Goodman
and Gilman’s Pharmacological Book and Braun- Wald’s Cardiovascular
Therapeutics, advise against the use of the fast-relief drug. The British
Medical Journal says that the drug may actually increase mortality. The USFDA,
too, warns against its hazards. The medical textbooks go on to caution that the
high blood pressure should not be brought down so rapidly. It could trigger
reaction symptoms and result in electrical disturbances of the heart, paralytic
attack and even death. However, only the better-equipped health centers have
started using safe options. In most other hospitals and dispensaries, the drug
is in common usage. Senior officials in the Union health ministry say, tongue
firmly in cheek that the drug is most suitable for “bringing down blood
pressure in VVIP patients.” Top cardiologists, of course, have almost dumped
it. Senior cardiologists at Escorts hospital, Ravi Kasliwal says, “it’s use is
now greatly restricted. But some doctors might prescribe it if BP is very high.
Now, there are safer options available.” Another senior cardiologist at the All
India Institute of Medical Science, K. K. Talwar, who uses “better drugs”, says
that they try to avoid using these formulations considering the risks involved.
Answer
the following question.
Q1.
W.r.t the above facts, explain the various issues relating to public safety.
Q2.
What remedial measures do you suggest to prevent the misuse of the BP drug?
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