“ Patient no 13/2017” calls out a nurse. A patient reduced to a number as if she were in jail. Sounds demeaning, doesn’t it? May I say that this practice is legal and in fact, desired in India by the “Medical termination of pregnancy regulations 2003” (MTP regulations). Shocked? Confused? The Government of India framed these regulations in 1975 and amended them in 1993. The regulations state that the name of the woman undergoing termination of pregnancy (TOP) should not be entered anywhere except on the admission register and consent form.
At all other places, it is the serial number assigned from the admission register that is to be entered. This “special” provision has been made to safe guard the privacy of the woman. Well, that is fantastic! Privacy of every patient is of paramount importance. However, let us see how this provision works in real life. A woman comes to my clinic. An…
