A Tribute to Doctors

 

Praise Me Not - Blame Me Not

Blow hot, Blow Cold. This is what I felt when reading two contradictory news publications in a daily paper yesterday and today. While the concern towards the emotion of the general public is appreciated, for me it appeared to be a biased one as it failed to notify the plight of the medical fraternity.

The news was about the suicide of a gynaecologist after being charged by police on charges of murder over the death of a pregnant woman during childbirth under her care. Also, it covered up the assault on two district Doctors for the death of a patient with renal disease. In both cases, the actions of the police mitigate the emotional outburst of the dead patient's protesting relatives. The incidents led to the protest by both affected parties both the Doctor and patient, the people to govern the law and order should exercise caution in handling the situation. Neither the public nor the police have any radical first-hand information about what went wrong and where. 

Had it been positive it, the pregnant woman delivering a healthy baby and the patient with renal complications recovering in full, the same relatives or general public heap praise on the Doctors? It is the same Doctor who gives the treatment. What happened or happened, GOK.

We can consider ourselves as beasts and inhuman exhibiting the indifferently cruel, sadistic or barbaric activities unleashed against the medical fraternity who toiled to save us from disaster during the pandemic COVID-19.

Every Doctor before entering into his profession takes Hippocratic Oath, named after the Greek Physician Hippocrates - of 5th Century B.C. All Doctors' are governed by the code of medical ethics designed by the World Heads Organization after the Second World War and accepted internationally. Every Doctor loves his profession and works to excel in it.

Do we really know how many governing laws of the medical profession?

Indian Medical Degree Act 1916

Indian Medical Council Act 1956 (Professional conduct, Etiquette.,)

Bombay Medical Practitioners; Act 1938

The Indian Nursing Council Act 1947

The Dentists' Act 1948

These are very few and important of a whole lot of others.

The Medical Council of India is a national-level statutory body for the Doctors of modern medicine and every practising Doctor is a Registered member of the council which is empowered to restrict or remove a Doctor from practice for negligence, dereliction of duty, abuse of professional position by committing adultery or improper conduct with a patient or by maintaining an improper position with a patient, etc.,

OK. Now will the general public know or understand how long it takes for a Doctor to start practicing and administering. After spending a major junk of his life. Yes. A year and a half of Rural service after Five and half years and a minimum of three years as an apprentice, and two years as a Junior. Is it right my dear Doctors?

To move on further, modern days require specialization in all fields of human anatomy. I swear, I do not know how many - but to say many. Its cost of study - huge. Time for a Doctor to establish in that field - the pain and suffering to get it - who knows other than the person concerned and God?

Crossing all these one has to either choose a Government profession or individual practice. Is it that much easy? Would you really weigh a Doctor sitting in a small room with a chair (stool) and a side bed? maybe at the time of an oldie - sixty years back, but now?

Imagine the Doctor wishes to establish a Hospital. Do you really know the trauma (not drama man) behind it? Laws governing the commissioning a hospital is numerous. There are laws to ensure that the hospital facilities are created after due process of registration, the facilities created are safe for the public to use them, have at least minimum infrastructure for the type and volume of expected workload, and are subjected to periodical inspection compliance. There are other laws governing the qualification or practical experience including the conduct of the professionals, sale, and storage of drugs and safe medication, management of patients, environmental safety, employment and management of manpower, adherence to the local, State and Central Government laws, medico-legal aspects and laws of safety of patients, public and staff within the hospital premises. There are laws governing professional training and research, business aspects, licenses and certifications required for hospitals etc., The administrator of the hospital should be aware of all the rules and laws, regulations, policies, reports and results and keep updated knowledge of the latest amendments to provide quality care of the patients. The important of all these is the handling of medical waste which is a major issue.

Can we forget the struggle of the establishment of AIIMS in Madurai, be it political or otherwise.

Now tell me, how many things do you remember? Please be informed that there are more than 628 commonly known diseases and 533 very active and curable diseases in India. There are 96 varieties of eye defects alone. A practising Doctor may not know how to treat 628 diseases but definitely know the cause and effect of a minimum of 50% of them and a Doctor supposedly knows the very common to common diseases and the medicines to prescribe. He should know the chemical combinations of the Drugs and medicines, the injections and their medical characteristics, and effects. More so he has to judge the quantum that the physical structure of the patient can accept and react.

You rush to a Doctor at an odd hour, say, at 1 a.m. and he does not hesitate to treat you. Did you recognize that? He is God at that time and when it dawns he is an ordinary man, Isn't he? What a fascinating world?

Now comes the Second Part.

Today there appeared a news in the same daily. It read as this. PM Shri Narendra Modi on Friday said the country will get a record number of doctors in the next 10 years due to the Centre's policy of establishing at least one medical college in every district. 

The goal of having at least one medical college in every district and ensuring that medical education is in reach of everyone will result in India getting a record number of doctors after 10 years. He perceived an optimistic outlook in having a quantum leap in practising doctors. He stressed the need for people to be cautious against Covid as it has not been fully eradicated.

The PM has appreciated the services of all doctors and healthcare workers for their commendable work during the torrid times of Covid 19.

Both Good and bad always prevail. Take the Good and brush aside the evil.

It is for sure that every Doctor works with dedication and loves his profession.

We are celebrating National Doctors' Day every July 1st.

I thank my Doctor for keeping me what I am today. Thank you, Doctor.

Scripted and written (with inputs from various sources) by:

Sethumadhavan Venkatrao

Chennai

+91 9962859676 (Whatsapp) +91 8838535445

Email: veeyes55@yahoo.in