Ethical considerations in pediatric intensive care unit: Indian perspective.

There is a tremendous age old faith, trust and respect towards physicians in Indian culture. The doctor is often viewed as a demi god and his advice, is usually considered as a gospel truth without any doubt and misgivings thus imposing an onerous responsibility on him for an ethical, correct and honest approach in his dealings with his patients. However, the physicians must realize that they are both morally and legally accountable to the society. Till recently, the acts of omissions and commissions by the physicians, were never challenged by the patients in India. The increasing public awareness and literacy with inclusion of services rendered by the physicians under the purview of the controversial Consumer Protection Act 1986 has exploded the myth of infallibility of Indian physicians. The doctors are equally to blame for the erosion of patient-doctor relationship and trust. Medicine is no longer considered as an art and divine task for allaying the suffering of ailing humanity, it has merely become another profession with all the unfortunate attributes of commercialism.