It is with with dismay I read about the cavalier attempt by Alor Setar Hospital in attempting to perform simultaneous scoliosis surgeries on identical twins Norbarkhih and Norbarkhiyah Mohd Yusof.
There is absolutely no medical indication to have this surgery except for the medical team’s five minutes of fame. While scoliosis is a progressive disease, it is not a condition to be measured in days and repair of scoliosis, in an adult, is an operation fraught with dangers.
Excessive blood loss is the main problem and even in world renowned spine centres, this kind of bravado is not attempted since there is zero benefit to the patient.
This is not to mention the unnecessary taxing of the support staff, ie, the nurses in the operating theatres, the intensive care unit and the laboratories. Other patients, too, who would have their operations cancelled to accommodate this fiasco.
I believe doctors should be their patients’ advocates rather than pawns to placate some quarters who just want to push the ‘Malaysia Boleh’ spirit.
No. 48, Jalan Kemuja, Bangsar Utama 59000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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