01/07/2026
HOLTER MONITORING OR HOLTER MOCKERY?
Today, a patient came to me for a second opinion after undergoing a so-called 24-hour Holter monitoring at some another laboratory.The attached 2 front pages.
On reviewing the report, I was shocked to find that only about 5 hours of ECG had actually been analysed, while the report was presented as a 24-hour Holter Report.
A Holter monitor is prescribed to detect intermittent arrhythmias, ischemia, pauses, heart block, atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and other potentially life-threatening events. Missing nearly 19 hours of recording can easily miss a serious cardiac event. This is not just a technical lapse-it can have serious consequences for patient care.
As someone who has been performing Holter monitoring in Patna for over 35 years, I can say with conviction:
A 24-hour Holter means 24 hours-not 5 hours.
Medicine is a profession of trust, not merely a business.
Unfortunately, there appears to be a growing tendency in some places to prioritize volume over quality. Reports are generated, fees are collected, and patients believe they have undergone a complete investigation when they have not.
I have never compromised on the quality of my Holter reports. I do not believe in shortcuts. I would rather lose referrals than lose my conscience.
I appeal to all fellow physicians:
• Please verify the actual recording duration before accepting a Holter report.
• Do not compromise patient safety for convenience.
• Refer patients to those holter monitoring centres that value accuracy, ethics, and scientific integrity.
Every Holter report influences treatment decisions. A careless or incomplete report can cost a patient much more than money-it can cost a life.
Patients deserve honesty. Medicine deserves ethics.
Dr. Debashis Choudhary
Rely on Experience.
