Senior pathologists have identified quackery and the employment of unqualified medical laboratory professionals as the greatest challenges that have marred the ethics of the profession.
Addressing a seminar on ‘Ethics for Pathologists’, at the University of Health Sciences (UHS), on Friday, UHS Vice-Chancellor Prof IA Naveed said it was fundamental to the responsibilities of every professional, including pathologists, to observe the highest standards of integrity and ethical principles.
The seminar was arranged by the College of Pathologists Pakistan. It was a part of the week-long celebrations observed by the college as the Annual National Pathology Week (May 7-13).
The VC said the role of the pathologist is to provide confirmatory diagnosis and improved management of diseases, give essential public health information and disease surveillance.
He said the profession has been taken over by quacks and unqualified professionals who practice with poor laboratory facilities, without supervision from any association or organised healthcare surveillance agency.
Naveed said pathologists had so far, paid little attention to whether they might have ethical problems that differed from those of clinicians, and how these might be resolved.
The ethical problems of pathologists lie in the conflict between moral obligations to the responsible clinician and to the patient being investigated, he said, adding that there was an ethical slant to almost all the aspects of laboratory medicine practice.
Prof Naveed lauded the efforts of the president and other members of the College of Pathologists for formulating a code of ethics for practitioners.
University of Health Sciences Pathology Department Head Prof AH Nagi said although quacks were seen in every field of medical practice but quackery in pathology was unique because it was created and supported by medical practitioners of various specialities.
“These medical practitioners start pathology laboratories with the help of technicians-some of whom are qualified but most are unqualified. Most of these laboratories are run in private hospitals and clinics and the technicians are projected intentionally as ‘pathologists’ to the public,” he said.
Prof Nagi revealed that in the 1970s, there were around 600 laboratories in Lahore which were being run by quacks or unqualified people. However, he added, there was no data available about current numbers.
He stressed upon the need of rigorous self-accountability and said patient welfare should be a priority. Prof Nagi critically evaluated various articles of the Code of Ethics drafted by the College of Pathologists and recommended more comprehensive ethical guidelines regarding the use of animals for research purposes to be incorporated into the document.
Prof Asim Mumtaz from the Shalamar Medical College briefed the participants on the history, organisation and aim and objectives of the college.
University of Health Sciences Allied Health Sciences Department Head Dr Saqib Mahmood, Prof Shahida Mohsin, Prof Farooq Aziz and others also spoke at the seminar attended by senior faculty members and postgraduate students.
