Medical practitioners speak their heart on Doctor’s Day
Its July 1- National Doctor’s Day. An annual observance that appreciates physicians and medical practioners. English poet and philosopher Samuel Taylor Coleridge once said, “He is the best physician who is the most ingenious inspirer of hope.” True, it is a profession that indeed is noble. During their academic course, the virtues of compassion, politeness and patience are ingrained in students pursuing medicine.
In situations when health emergency strikes, it is a doctor’s re-assurance, comforting calmness and hope that works as an anti-dote to panic. Still, there are times when unhappy relatives of the patient resort to violence. On this occasion, WTN speaks to a few medical practitioners to know their plight.
Dean of People’s Medical College and Research Centre, Bhopal, Dr MK Mishra on a thoughtful note says, “Right from the beginning, we practitioners are taught to be compassionate, empathic, patience and to remain in control.” When asked, if this aggressive pattern is found in a particular class, he says, “Patients come to us when they are withering in pain and their relatives too are emotionally disturbed or charged. At such a time, it is the duty of the doctor to ensure everything is in control, which means giving immediate attention to the patient, calming the relatives and ensuring everything is in order. It is not about being literate or illiterate. Aggression can be seen even in the educated if their dear one is unwell.”
He further adds that if the situation is handled by senior doctors and not the inexperienced juniors the number of untoward incidents can be curbed.
Speaking on the same lines Medical director, Dr Ashok Mhaske strongly feels that the general level of tolerance has depleted miserably and if the patient and his/her relatives are unhappy with the diagnosis or treatment they must go in for a second or third opinion. He says “As it is, the chaos will only delay the treatment and their dear relative will be the one suffering. So, the people must trust the doctor and believe in his efforts and also understand that doctors are human being, who work under very stressful condition.”
A senior gynecologist working with a government institution on condition of anonymity said, “Untoward situation occur when there is denial, which is a very integral part of human nature. Most of the times, patients are ignorant or careless about their health and as a professional, we have to inform them about the complications or worst situations. The patients and their relatives often feel that the doctor has a cure to all ailments or that nothing ‘must’ happen to the patient. This is when most problems arise.”
A senior resident doctor Dr Chirag Shanti Dausage says he too he fears the day when he would be facing angry relatives. He says, “Yes, why not. While the people must understand that doctors are mere mediators of the Almighty, we doctors must always remember to remain humble and polite. They are patients who are in agony and must first be given relief. We must understand that even their relatives are emotionally torn apart and are just being human.”
General surgeon resident doctor, Dr Kunwar Siddharth from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Jabalpur Medical College, Jabalpur says, “It is a human tendency that if you speak strong words, and shout on top of your voice, your work will get done. And this is what exactly happens most of the time. So, the first thing to do is to pacify the relatives. Secondly, I have always felt that those accompanying the relatives or the mob cause the problem. The patient and the relatives are too shocked to do such a thing.”
–windowtonews
