Who Should Decide on Heart Attack Treatment?

When a patient suffers a heart attack, the decision to proceed with treatment is often made by neighbors, distant relatives, or close friends at the office rather than the patient or their immediate family.

This is one of the most dangerous trends in today's healthcare system.

Over 25 years and millions of patients, one reality never changes: the patient is critical, but the decision-makers are non-clinical. This often leads to life-threatening confusion.

Let's reflect a bit: Have you ever given advice in such a situation: - When you have no direct relationship with the patient? - When you do not understand the reports, ECG, or angiogram? - Saying things like "Wait," "Let's ask someone," or "So-and-so said this"?

Have you ever realized that your one sentence could delay angioplasty or treatment, increase clot formation, and cause permanent heart damage?

Some facts, clearly stated from a doctor's perspective:

1. In emergencies, 'Minutes = Muscle.' Delay means permanent heart damage. Misunderstanding causes the biggest delays.

2. The right to decide lies with the patient and their immediate family. Others can only give opinions, not decisions. Sometimes these opinions can be life-threatening.

3. Getting a second opinion from another expert doctor is good, but free opinions from 8-10 people during emergencies can be wrong.

4. Doctors do not pressure; they reduce risk. In my experience, lives lost due to delayed treatment are more than those lost due to incorrect treatment.

5. In major crises, the voice of experts is most important. Do not gamble your life on YouTube, WhatsApp influencers (except specialist doctors), incomplete information, or distant relatives.

Have you ever given unnecessary advice in such situations? Or has treatment been delayed in your family due to advice from many people? Please share in the comments; open discussion on this topic is very important for society.

What ideally should be done: - Let only the immediate family and doctors make decisions. - If help is needed, assist in getting a second opinion. - To save lives, reduce confusion and increase clarity.

Dr Ravindra L. Kulkarni, MD, DNB, FSCAI (Cardiology) Just For Hearts