Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology What Is Social Responsibility? We are mostly the type of society in which people care about themselves and their immediate surroundings and family. We often claim to care about 'our neighbors' and we sort of believe 'to love our neighbor', but, in reality, more than less it doesn't happen. This is just the way it is. I am far from being judgmental but it is very much against many of the religious beliefs, in multiple religions. It is also often acting against ourselves in a long run. Let me bring some examples to your attention. Let's say we discovered that chicken meat we bought from the local store was spoiled. We probably would take it back and request a refund or a new pack of meat. I am sure the store would comply with our request. But what would the store manager do at that point? Often, the manager would just throw this one pack away, give us our money back, and the story would end. Or not. What if there are more spoiled packages of meat on the shelves? How about someone not paying attention actually used it for dinner? A socially responsible person would rather check all the batches of meat that possibly can be affected before anybody gets sick. A socially responsible person would inform other employees that the store might have had a problem. In short, awareness of the problem would create pro-active intervention, preventing anybody from getting sick. The same rule applies to malfunctioning cars. I am sure you heard recently about some big car brands delaying recalls of dysfunctional operational parts of their brand. They had reports of failures for months if not years, but did not act to prevent other failures possibly coming for the same reasons. If this kind of behavior is identified, there are heavy fines and penalties for lack of compliance. Social responsibility applies to healthcare more than to any other field. Doctors and other providers of medical care deal with thousands of medications, supplies, equipment, and tools. Every time you visit a new doctor and your medical history is taken, they should ask about your experience from the past, allergies, hospitalizations, and such. That history taken at the beginning of your treatment will serve as a base of the future prescriptions, procedures, and other treatments. If you do not inform them about your past history and experience, there is a chance you may be exposed to something that will hurt you. If doctors prescribe some medications to a number of patients and hear back from them that medication is causing problems rather than benefit, these doctors have responsibility to notify regulatory agencies about possible side effects. No other medical field is more sensitive reporting of unexpected outcomes than clinical research. If you ever participated in clinical trial, you know that the first question you hear at every visit is about any negative outcomes or illnesses you might have experienced since the prior visit. Not only your doctor must document that event, but often, the team of doctors on the same study discuss and analyze if the new drug can potentially cause more harm than benefit. This is often called risk/benefit ratio. If doctors do not do it, they become socially irresponsible for bringing a new medication to the market, medication that can harm. Social responsibility is a topic worth our reflection and discussion. It applies to so many paths of life and every single person. We just need to take time and think about it in our speedy way of running our existence. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology What Is Social Responsibility ? We are mostly the type of society in which people care about themselves and their immediate surroundings and family . We often claim to care about ' our neighbors ' and we sort of believe ' to love our neighbor ' , but , in reality , more than less it doesn't happen . This is just the way it is . I am far from being judgmental but it is very much against many of the religious beliefs , in multiple religions . It is also often acting against ourselves in a long run . Let me bring some examples to your attention . Let's say we discovered that chicken meat we bought from the local store was spoiled . We probably would take it back and request a refund or a new pack of meat . I am sure the store would comply with our request . But what would the store manager do at that point ? Often , the manager would just throw this one pack away , give us our money back , and the story would end . Or not . What if there are more spoiled packages of meat on the shelves ? How about someone not paying attention actually used it for dinner ? A socially responsible person would rather check all the batches of meat that possibly can be affected before anybody gets sick . A socially responsible person would inform other employees that the store might have had a problem . In short , awareness of the problem would create pro - active intervention , preventing anybody from getting sick . The same rule applies to malfunctioning cars . I am sure you heard recently about some big car brands delaying recalls of dysfunctional operational parts of their brand . They had reports of failures for months if not years , but did not act to prevent other failures possibly coming for the same reasons . If this kind of behavior is identified , there are heavy fines and penalties for lack of compliance . Social responsibility applies to healthcare more than to any other field . Doctors and other providers of medical care deal with thousands of medications , supplies , equipment , and tools . Every time you visit a new doctor and your medical history is taken , they should ask about your experience from the past , allergies , hospitalizations , and such . That history taken at the beginning of your treatment will serve as a base of the future prescriptions , procedures , and other treatments . If you do not inform them about your past history and experience , there is a chance you may be exposed to something that will hurt you . If doctors prescribe some medications to a number of patients and hear back from them that medication is causing problems rather than benefit , these doctors have responsibility to notify regulatory agencies about possible side effects . No other medical field is more sensitive reporting of unexpected outcomes than clinical research . If you ever participated in clinical trial , you know that the first question you hear at every visit is about any negative outcomes or illnesses you might have experienced since the prior visit . Not only your doctor must document that event , but often , the team of doctors on the same study discuss and analyze if the new drug can potentially cause more harm than benefit . This is often called risk / benefit ratio . If doctors do not do it , they become socially irresponsible for bringing a new medication to the market , medication that can harm . Social responsibility is a topic worth our reflection and discussion . It applies to so many paths of life and every single person . We just need to take time and think about it in our speedy way of running our existence . Michael Bukhalo , MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net