Love and respect thy patient

This is with reference to article, Love Thy Doctor by Dr.Rumana Makhdoomi, where the author put forth her viewpoint regarding the stateof healthcare. The argument which the author has put forth can be agreed anddisagreed at the same time. The argument is one-sided regarding the doctors,barring patients which form a vital and core component of the healthcaresystem.

Healthcare has come a long way since times immemorial fromtraditional forms to scientific ones and assumed a significant posture in thecontemporary times due to skyrocketing ascendency in the number of ailments anddiseases. The intervention of technological inputs and paraphernalia has lent arenewed impetus to the state of healthcare the world over.

   

 Today health-relatedissues have created a sort of furore all over the society. No family is aloofof the health related problems, and thus medical intervention is the need ofhour, where the role of doctors assumes a central importance and patient’s rolecomes secondary. This is where the argument of the author is centred on.

In the system of healthcare, the key concern is the healthof the patient, although, respect and care of the mutual entities vis-a-viseach other overwhelms the whole argument.

Doctors as the saviours of the human beings need to betreated in respect and kind regards. Their hands create a state of balance inthe unbalanced unhealthy human beings. The patients are the bruised souls with hurted hearts and may sometimesout of mental stress behave impolitely with the doctors, or even theirattendants. This is where the role of medical ethics comes into play. Patienceof the doctors can be tested in times, but, persuasions, motivations andethical conduct can override the rage and fury thereof.

The author argues that doctors are blamed for all andsensationalism of media outpours, where doctors are weak, etc. The attendantsassault and damage the doctors. Sometimes, when medical negligence occurs, whocould be blamed? Like the recent Anantnag tragedy. The author also argues thatdoctors cannot change the healthcare system, it needs policy interventions ofthe government which is a weak excuse, doctors can change healthcare bybringing a paradigm shift in their behaviour and consultations.

The author also talks about greener pastures where doctorsare paid handsomely and says the typical Indian scenario, which makes it apoint of counter-argument. Doctors treat human being and not the greenerpastures. Then, what is the point of healthcare in Kashmir.

Recently, for a consultation at the government hospital,when my turn came and I entered a well-lit room where a doctor was sitting on achair, few non-local young labourers entered also. They showed medicines to thedoctor and after one of them said something, the doctor got enraged and beganshouting at the doctor. The words he minced echoed in the room and were, Haveyou not heard my name. I will throw you out of the window. Tum dafah hojao (Getlost)…Again, he prescribed me medicines and asked me to show him the same. Iasked for a pen among a bunch of pens on his table so that i can tag back ofthe medicine covers about the timings of the medicine, which he rejected andsaid in an overtone, this is shopkeeper’s job. This is where the egos get hurtand bruised. Doctors’ words can make or break the bond of patient-doctorrelationship. The only argument vis-a-vis the author who is a doctor and otherdoctors is that love and respect thy patient, your respect will automaticallyflow in the long run.

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