Decoding the facts in the context of Doctor’s day……
The verse “Vaidyo Narayano Harihi” means that a doctor (healer) should be seen in the form of supreme god (Narayana).
Doctor’s day is observed in India on 1st of July every year and it serves as an occasion for appreciating the good work and contributions of doctors, recognizing their selfless service and expressing gratitude towards them. National Doctors’ day was first celebrated in India on 1st of July 1991 as a tribute to Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy who was an eminent physician, a social worker and a politician. Coincidentally his birth and death anniversaries were on the same date. Indian Medical Association (IMA) has dedicated this day for all the doctors and health care workers who tirelessly work for patient care. The significance of doctors’ day was further intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic all over the world to exemplify the role of doctors and health care professionals which was indeed highly commendable.
Doctors’ day was first observed in Georgia (US State) in March 1933. On this day, greetings were given to the physicians and flowers/ bouquets were placed on the graves of doctors who had expired. Doctors’ day is celebrated across the world but on different dates in different countries. In the United States it is observed on March 30th, in Iran it is celebrated on August 23rd and in Cuba on December 3rd.
Doctors are considered as epitomes of god from the ancient times. The verse “Vaidyo Narayano Harihi” means that a doctor (healer) should be seen in the form of supreme god (Narayana). But is this apt in today’s scenario ??? Unfortunately, due to various reasons this verse doesn’t hold good in the present times.
Another distressing and unhealthy issue on the rise is the habit of searching each and every medical related thing in “google” by the patients or their attendants.
Rising medical negligence and malpractice incidents, unprofessionalism and breach of medical ethics, medical education becoming a business with no proper fee regulations, increasing competition among private practicing doctors, enormous expansion of the super speciality and multispeciality corporate hospitals, violence against doctors and many other factors are contributing towards loss of virtues, integrity and nobility in doctors profession.
With the rise in cases of medical negligence, a common man is becoming more cognizant of his rights. The incidences are infact more in government run hospitals. Many cases go unnoticed or are often overlooked as the patients themselves are not aware of such incidents or are not ready to confront the situation. On the other hand, it is rather disheartening that relatives/ attendants of patients assume everything as medical negligence and indulge in violence against the doctors without properly judging a situation despite the risk explained by the doctors.
Another distressing and unhealthy issue on the rise is the habit of searching each and every medical related thing in “google” by the patients or their attendants.
The harsh reality is that due to irregular low salary and workload, there is a massive exodus of experienced and good faculties from medical colleges resulting in passing out of students without good skills, morals or ethics.
They are often boisterous and go for a second opinion or get into an argument with the health care professionals for shifting out the patient into another hospital against the medical advice and at the cost of the patient’s safety. Even though superspeciality corporate hospitals are meant for treating intricate or exceptional critical cases, there is also an increased tendency of the patients to go to superspeciality hospitals even for trivial sickness and later grumble about the high charges. Doctors are also blamed for writing an extensive list of investigations unnecessarily. But when a patient goes to seek out an expert opinion how can he complain about the high fares ??? Many times, in order to diagnose a case and come to a proper conclusion many investigations are crucial.
The irrational prescription of drugs by doctors is an alarming issue to be addressed promptly and multiple factors are contributing towards it. Attitude of the patients to achieve an instant symptomatic relief at all costs, drug promotion and unrealistic claims by manufacturers, unethical inducements, patient’s demands and working environment of the doctors are the factors influencing prescription. There is also a trend among the general population to demand the physicians for antibiotics when it is actually not needed. For example, an anxious mother demands her pediatrician to start an antibiotic for viral induced flu-like symptoms in her kid. On refusal by the pediatrician, such mothers might also prefer to change doctors.
Irrespective of the pressures, demands and inducements, a doctor must strictly abide by the Hippocratic Oath and should always think of his patient’s safety and well-being. He/she should follow the general principles of drug prescription and should always give prime consideration about the perception of drug need, drug efficacy and its cost.
Another Gordian knot in today’s society is the problem of exhaustive establishments of medical colleges in every nook and corner of the city with lack of proper fee regulations, proper infrastructure and quality in teaching due to inadequate number of experienced faculty. The harsh reality is that due to irregular low salary and workload, there is a massive exodus of experienced and good faculties from medical colleges resulting in passing out of students without good skills, morals or ethics. This again may lead to a vicious cycle of medical negligence by the under trained doctors.
The responsibility of withholding the nobility and glory of the doctor’s profession lies in the hands of the doctors, patients, government and the society as a whole. The doctor-patient relationship has to be strengthened on the basis of respect, trust, care and hope. The patients should be aware of their rights and at the same time about their responsibilities towards the doctors and hospitals.
The government should frame a proper fee structure for the government as well as the private medical colleges. Medical negligence in any form is highly inadmissible. Doctors should be vigilant at every step and must strictly abide by professional ethics irrespective of the demands, coercions and emoluments offered to them. Doctor’s day is not just a day of recognising and appreciating the work and sacrifices of doctors. The present doctors should be able to galvanize and inspire the young budding doctors to visualize their profession as an opportunity to serve their patients with care and selfless motive. The doctor’s profession should not wholly become a mere job. There is nothing special and nobler than saving a human life !!!!
Composed by: “Dr. Shubha is presently working as Lab head/Consultant Pathologist at SRL Diagnostics, Fortis Hospital, Rajajinagar, Bangalore.”
