LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


“The greatest wealth is to live content with little.” – Plato



Is coronavirus a hoax?

In the midst of a global pandemic, conspiracy theorists have found yet another mean to create chaos and misinformation about COVID-19, sowing seeds of doubts about its severity and denying the very existence of the pandemic. The first most common conspiracy theory about coronavirus being a hoax is that 5G is to be blamed for the rapid spread of COVID-19. The conspiracy theorists believe it degrades the immune system and that the dangers are being covered up by powerful forces in the global telecommunications industry. Although, scientists confirm that COVID-19 is transmitted via respiratory droplets, and they are quick to point out that you cannot transmit droplets through 5G waves. So if we listen to the science, the simple fact is that 5G cannot be behind the pandemic, either by spreading the virus or by degrading our immune response. The second conspiracy theory to falsely claim coronavirus as an elaborate hoax is that Bill Gates is also somehow responsible for originating the virus. Some people on social media have been accusing Gates of starting the coronavirus pandemic. This is after Gates, Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist, has spent much of the second act of his career initiating and supporting efforts to prevent and control infectious diseases via the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This is after Gates has on multiple occasions pushed for more awareness about the possibility of a pandemic and more efforts to prevent this possibility, such as in his 2015 TED talk. Yet, conspiracy theorists are now claiming that Gates somehow created this pandemic. Isn’t this like blaming someone for causing a heart attack after he or she has warned you for years about such a possibility? My advice to people reading this is not to fall for these fake theories and as a result, not to avoid taking preventive measures.

Seher Hasan,
Karachi.

Medical negligence in Pakistan

The understanding of medical negligence as a concept is rather hazy in our society. The term "medical negligence" is often used synonymously with "medical malpractice." Medical malpractice is a legal cause of action that occurs when a medical or health care professional deviates from standards in their profession, thereby causing injury to a patient or in some cases, death. On a daily basis, several cases involving medical neglect on part of the practitioner are witnessed. By means of defective procedure techniques, leaving instruments in abdomen, amputating the wrong foot, administration of wrong vaccines, use of expired drugs, making wrong diagnosis and giving wrong treatment can lead to grave complications and has even resulted in deaths. Medical miscalculations have been an eminent problem in health care practices worldwide. Irrespective whether it is a developed country like UK or a developing nation like Pakistan. In Pakistan, there are diverse dynamics resulting in lack of medical negligence litigation. Lack of awareness and knowledge among the general public about their health rights is at the lowest level. Even the educated class, are unaware of their very basic healthcare rights. Another key issue for lack of medical negligence litigation is, that the legal framework of Pakistan does not explicitly support the no encouragement medical negligent cases to be brought to courts. Under such gloomy state of affairs, the Government of Pakistan should enact legislation in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard guidelines. It is by all means humanly impossible to develop a health care system where there are no errors and negligence. Human beings are not perfect and we are bound to cause some sort of errors. There is a need to expound a system where medical negligence issues and errors can be recognised and the accused can be identified, condemned and penalised by law.

Zainab Amir,
Islamabad.


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