The Phenomenon of “Doctoroid,” IPB University Lecturer Reveals Several Triggers
The phenomenon of “doctoroid,” individuals who claim to be medical professionals without a medical education background, has once again come under scrutiny following the “Quack Brothers” malpractice case in India.
According to Times of India via detikHealth on Thursday (5/29), two brothers were arrested for impersonating surgeons and performing surgery on a six-year-old child, resulting in the child’s death. Both were only high school graduates.
Responding to this case, dr Ari Sri Wulandari, SpFM, a lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, IPB University, explained that this phenomenon is known as “doctoroid.” They are individuals without formal medical education who claim to be healthcare workers, even performing medical procedures.
dr Ari highlighted several factors contributing to the emergence of doctoroid practices. One of them is the limited access to healthcare services in certain areas, which drives communities to seek cheaper and more accessible alternatives.
“Low health literacy among the public is also a contributing factor. Many residents do not understand who has the legal authority to provide medical services and are easily deceived by appearances such as white coats or false claims,” she said.
She also highlighted the weakness of regulations and legal oversight, which creates loopholes for such practices. According to her, the “Quack Brothers” case in India reflects systemic failures in oversight and the quality of medical services.
“In such situations, it is crucial for hospitals to ensure that only healthcare workers who are qualified, licensed, and competent are permitted to perform medical procedures,” dr Ari emphasized.
For this reason, she stressed the importance of strict verification of medical staff credentials, oversight of clinical processes, and the implementation of clear standard operating procedures (SOP). Patient safety culture, she said, must be the responsibility of all hospital staff, not just medical personnel.
Furthermore, dr Ari explained that every hospital has systematic efforts to ensure patient safety, known as patient safety. These efforts are directly related to patient safety and well-being and are a major responsibility of healthcare providers.
“In Indonesia, the patient safety system is based on regulations from the Ministry of Health, national accreditation standards from the Hospital Accreditation Commission (KARS), and Patient Safety Goals principles that align with international standards such as the Joint Commission International (JCI),” she explained.
dr Ari cited several examples of patient safety implementation, such as identifying high-risk activities, conducting regular risk assessments, reporting incidents, and implementing national safety goals such as accurate patient identification, effective communication among staff, securing high-risk medications, and preventing infections and falls.
“All hospital staff, both medical and non-medical, play a crucial role in ensuring patient safety. Clinical procedures must be carried out in accordance with SOPs and applicable safety principles,” she emphasized.
For this reason, hospital staff are required to undergo regular training and undergo a credentialing process, which is a periodic evaluation of healthcare workers’ qualifications, conducted at least every five years during license renewal. “This process ensures that every healthcare professional providing services is truly competent and qualified,” she concluded. (dh) (IAAS/PRO)
