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Fulltext Update on the management of diabetes during Ramadan fast for healthcare practitioners

Rathor MY, Mohammad Fauzi AR, Omar AM

International Medical Journal Malaysia, 2014;13(2):67-72.
MyJurnal

Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, a recurring annual ritual, which is passionately practiced by most Muslims across the world. It is obligatory on every healthy Muslim; however, the Qur’an and Islamic teachings specifically exempt people with acute or chronic illnesses from this duty, especially if it might have harmful consequences. Muslims with diabetes are exempted from fasting, but many of them still fast during Ramadan, for their personal convictions as revealed by EPIDIAR study which showed that 43% of patients with type 1 diabetes and 79% with type 2 diabetes fasted during Ramadan. Muslims constitute about a quarter of the world’s population who are spread all over the globe. It is inevitable that health care issues peculiar to them will be encountered worldwide and health care providers will have to counsel them regarding medications and whether it is safe to undertake the fast. This paper is an update on the management of Ramadan fasting based on current evidence from published literature and expert opinions.
Fulltext Risk factors for anti tuberculous drugs induced hepatitis: a prospective survey from a chest clinic in a general hospital

Fauzi ARM, Shah A, Rathor MY, Satwi S

Med J Malaysia, 2004 Mar;59(1):72-7.
PMID: 15535339

A prospective survey on 14 consecutive cases with tuberculous drug induced hepatitis was done at our chest clinic in a state general hospital over a period of 15 months. There were 30 controls chosen randomly from the chest clinic register. The cases had lower mean body mass index (P<0.008), serum albumin (P<0.005) and higher serum globulin (P<0.04). Serum liver transaminases and total bilirubin rose significantly during the acute episode of drug induced hepatitis. Among the risk factors studied, only chronic hepatitis B carrier status was found to be more prevalent among the cases. There was one death (7.1%) over the whole study period.
Study site: Chest clinic, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA), Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
Fulltext Usefulness of cytological specimens from bronchial brushings and bronchial washings in addition to endobronchial biopsies during bronchoscopy for lung cancer: 3 years data from a chest clinic in a general hospital

Fauzi AR, Balakrishnan L, Rathor MY

Med J Malaysia, 2003 Dec;58(5):729-34.
PMID: 15190660

A retrospective review of all bronchoscopy cases for investigation of lung cancer between January 1997 and December 1999 was done. The cases were included if endobronchial mass was visible (Group A) or when there was an abnormal mucosa and/or bronchial narrowing in the absence of a mass (Group B). All patients in Group A (n = 177) underwent endobronchial biopsy (EB) bronchial brushings (BB) and bronchial washings (BW). All cases in Group B underwent transbronchial biopsy (TBB), BB and BW. Only a small increase in the positive results for cancer was seen when cytology specimens (BB and BW) were added to EB (85.3% vs 88.1%, McNemar's P = 0.06) in Group A but there was a significant increase in Group B (37.3% vs 54.2%. McNemar's, P = 0.001). Therefore although cytology specimens did not significantly add to overall yield of positive results when endobronchial lesions were visible, when mass lesions were not visible, cytology specimens increased the yield by 16.9%.
Study site: Chest clinic, Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA), Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Fulltext Informed consent: a socio-legal study

Rathor MY, Rani MF, Shah AM, Akter SF

Med J Malaysia, 2011 Dec;66(5):423-8.
PMID: 22390094 MyJurnal

Informed consent [IC] is a recognized socio-legal obligation for the medical profession. The doctrine of IC involves the law, which aims to ensure the lawfulness of health assistance and tends to reflect the concept of autonomy of the person requiring and requesting medical and/or surgical treatment. Recent changes in the health care delivery system and the complex sociological settings, in which it is practiced, have resulted in an increase in judicial activity and medical negligence lawsuits for physicians. While IC is a well-established practice, it often fails to meet its stated purpose. In the common law, the standard of medical care to disclose risks has been laid down by the Bolam test- a familiar concept to most physicians, but it has been challenged recently in many jurisdictions. This paper aims to discuss some important judgments in cases of alleged medical negligence so as to familiarize doctors regarding their socio-legal obligations. We also propose to discuss some factors that influence the quality of IC in clinical practice.
Fulltext Is autonomy a universal value of human existence? Scope of autonomy in medical practice: a comparative study between western medical ethics and islamic medical ethics

Rathor MY, Azarisman Shah MS, Hasmoni MH

International Medical Journal Malaysia, 2016;15(1):81-88.
MyJurnal

The practice of contemporary medicine has been tremendously influenced by western ideas and it is assumed by many that autonomy is a universal value of human existence. In the World Health Report 2000, the World Health Organization (WHO) considered autonomy a “universal” value of human life against which every health system in the world should be judged. Further in Western bioethics, patient autonomy and self -determination prevails in all sectors of social and personal life, a concept unacceptable to some cultures. In principle, there are challenges to the universal validity of autonomy, individualism and secularism, as most non-Western cultures are proud of their communal relations and spiritualistic ethos and, thereby imposing Western beliefs and practices as aforementioned can have deleterious consequences. Religion lies at the heart of most cultures which influences the practice patterns of medical professionals in both visible and unconscious ways. However, religion is mostly viewed by scientists as mystical and without scientific proof. Herein lies the dilemma, whether medical professionals should respect the cultural and religious beliefs of their patients? In this paper we aim to discuss some of the limitations of patient's autonomy by comparing the process of reasoning in western medical ethics and Islamic medical ethics, in order to examine the possibility and desirability of arriving at a single, unitary and universally acceptable notion of medical ethics. We propose a more flexible viewpoint that accommodates different cultural and religious values in interpreting autonomy and applying it in an increasingly multilingual and multicultural, contemporaneous society in order to provide the highest level of care possible.
Fulltext Knowledge and Perceptions on End-of-life Care among End-stage Renal Disease Patients on Hemodialysis

Rozi NRB, Bin Wan Ali WASR, Bin Draman CR, Pasi HB, Rathor MY

Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl, 2022 Sep 01;33(5):664-673.
PMID: 37955458 DOI: 10.4103/1319-2442.389426

The role of end-of-life care is fundamental for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, who are known to have a high morbidity and mortality rate despite being on dialysis. This requires effective communication and shared decision-making. Thus, exploring patients' knowledge and perceptions is essential to improve the gaps in delivering end-of-life care. This study aimed to describe the knowledge and perceptions of end-of-life care among ESRD patients on hemodialysis (HD). This was a cross-sectional study involving 14 outpatient HD centers in Kuantan, Malaysia. Patients were recruited from March to June 2019. A validated questionnaire was delivered via interview-based surveys by the researcher or trained interviewers. The majority of the respondents had poor knowledge of the disease and end-of-life care. However, more than 70% of the respondents felt that it was important for them to be actively involved in medical decision-making, as well as being prepared and planning for death. End-of-life needs, which included management of symptoms and psychological, social, and spiritual support, were important to most respondents. Additionally, patients with higher educational backgrounds were observed to have higher scores for both knowledge and perceptions (P <0.05). The study found poor knowledge but acceptable perceptions among patients. This highlights the gaps in the current local approach in clinical practice to end-of-life care in ESRD.
Prediction of functional outcome in patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage by clinical-computed tomographic correlations

Rathor MY, Rani MF, Jamalludin AR, Amran M, Shahrin TC, Shah A

J Res Med Sci, 2012 Nov;17(11):1056-62.
PMID: 23833581

BACKGROUND: Primary intracerebral hemorrhage (PICH) remains the deadliest and most disabling form of stroke. The aim of our study was to determine the potential predictors for survival and neurological recovery in PICH patients by clinical-computed tomographic (CT) correlation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study conducted among PICH patients at a tertiary care hospital. The clinical and CT scan findings were correlated with the functional outcome using modified Rankin scores (mRS) of 0-5 at discharge and during six months follow-up.
RESULTS: The clinical and CT findings in 160 (93 male and 67 female) eligible adult patients with age range from 25 to 85 years (mean age 58.30 ± 11.44 years) were analyzed. The mean Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score was significantly higher among survivors. (12.8 ± 0.4 vs. 8.5 ± 0.5, P < 0.001) Based upon the pattern of the CT findings, the best outcome in terms of survival was for the patients with ICH in basal ganglia/internal capsule region (86.7 %), followed by lobar hemorrhage (67.1%). Good functional outcome was associated with a hematoma volume of less than 30 ml. At discharge majority of the survivors were functionally dependent 76 (70.4%) and only 32 (29.6%) achieved functional independence. The significant independent predictors of in- hospital survival were GCS score > 9 (OR 10.8; 95% CI 4.061 to 28.719), basal ganglia/internal capsule bleed (OR 9.750; 95% CI 2.122 to 45.004), hematoma volume <30 ml (OR 11.476; 95% CI 4. 810 to 27.434), no mid line shift (OR 4.901; 95% CI 2.405 to 9.987) and no intraventricular extension of hemorrhage (OR 7.040; 95% CI 3.358 to 14.458).
CONCLUSION: Outcome and functional status at discharge were well correlated with the initial CT scan findings and GCS score.
Fulltext Attitudes toward euthanasia and related issues among physicians and patients in a multi-cultural society of Malaysia

Rathor MY, Abdul Rani MF, Shahar MA, Jamalludin AR, Che Abdullah ST, Omar AM, et al.

J Family Med Prim Care, 2014 Jul;3(3):230-7.
PMID: 25374860 DOI: 10.4103/2249-4863.141616

INTRODUCTION: Due to globalization and changes in the health care delivery system, there has been a gradual change in the attitude of the medical community as well as the lay public toward greater acceptance of euthanasia as an option for terminally ill and dying patients. Physicians in developing countries come across situations where such issues are raised with increasing frequency. As euthanasia has gained world-wide prominence, the objectives of our study therefore were to explore the attitude of physicians and chronically ill patients toward euthanasia and related issues. Concomitantly, we wanted to ascertain the frequency of requests for assistance in active euthanasia.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Questionnaire based survey among consenting patients and physicians.
RESULTS: The majority of our physicians and patients did not support active euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide (EAS), no matter what the circumstances may be P < 0.001. Both opposed to its legalization P < 0.001. Just 15% of physicians reported that they were asked by patients for assistance in dying. Both physicians 29.2% and patients 61.5% were in favor of withdrawing or withholding life-sustaining treatment to a patient with no chances of survival. Among patients no significant differences were observed for age, marital status, or underlying health status.
CONCLUSIONS: A significant percentage of surveyed respondents were against EAS or its legalization. Patient views were primarily determined by religious beliefs rather than the disease severity. More debates on the matter are crucial in the ever-evolving world of clinical medicine.
KEYWORDS: Attitude; euthanasia; legalization; multi-cultural; physician-assisted suicide
Fulltext Blood pressure control among diabetic hypertensives under cardiology follow-up at a regional hospital in rural Malaysia

Azarisman SM, Aszrin A, Marzuki AO, Fatnoon NN, Hilmi A, Hadzri MH, et al.

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2010 Jul;41(4):973-81.
PMID: 21073073

Three hundred thirty-one consecutive patients presenting with hypertension to the outpatient medical clinic of Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital, Kuantan, Malaysia were screened and 150 patients with concurrent diabetes were enrolled into a cross-sectional study. The majority of patients were male (60.6%) with a mean age of 60.0 +/- 11.0 years. The mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 140.9 +/- 20.1 mmHg and the mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 81.7 +/- 9.8 mmHg. Only 38.0% (57/150) of patients had blood pressures within recommended guidelines (130/80 mmHg). The mean blood pressure in this group was 123.7 +/- 8.5/76.4 +/- 5.6 mmHg. The majority of patients were on either 2 (41.3%) or 3 (31.3%) anti-hypertensives. Females had a significantly higher SBP 145.4 +/- 22.7 vs. 138.0 +/- 17.8 mmHg in males (p = 0.026). The level of blood pressure control in diabetics was unsatisfactory, especially in females and the elderly. A reassessment of priorities in the management of patients with concurrent hypertension and diabetes is therefore, urgently needed.

Study site: outpatient medical clinic of Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital,