It’s 4 p.m. Classes are over for the day and students of the Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, are making a beeline for their homes and hostels.
Within minutes the bustling, leafy campus, with 1,000 or so students (roughly 200 per batch from years one to five), is pretty much deserted, save for a few students here and there. Many of the stragglers, though, are hunched over medical tomes as big as themselves, so seriously engrossed in their studies that we don’t think they’ll appreciate being disturbed, even if it’s to talk about their perception of the challenges of the medical profession today.
Thankfully, three first year students, Vaishakh Haridas, Visakh S. and Sidharth S., all natives of the city, saunter by and are more than willing to talk. “It was only when we got here that we understood that the human body is so fabulous,” says Vyshakh, who seems to be the most articulate of the trio. “All what we have seen and learnt about it makes me realise that we have to respect the body. Only when we respect it – and the patients too – will we get respect. Also, respect is something that doctors would have to earn in the coming years, rather than something they get by virtue of the profession,” says the bespectacled youngster. “Another challenge before doctors is to follow medical ethics. They have to judiciously juggle their obligations to the hospital, their profession, the patients and society, mindful of the laws of the land,” chips in Sidharth, as quiet Vishakh nods in agreement.
Third year students Aswin Narendran, Bikas Keethadath, Balabhaskar H. and Bijoy Ajayan also say that medical ethics is a “huge” challenge. “Where does one draw the line? I think it will be an easier choice for doctors who are in government service. You wouldn’t have to pander to the whims and fancies of the managements of private hospital then,” says Aswin.“Evidence-based medicine is becoming the norm in the field and in medical education. It’s a step in the right direction but it also means that patients would be subject to a lot of expensive clinical trials and investigations prior to a diagnosis,” explains Bijoy. “Practising ethical medicine shouldn’t be a problem if your idea is to work in service of society. Studying medicine is a reality check of sorts. We had no inkling of what life, pain and suffering were really all about until we came here, learnt what we learnt and saw what we saw. It just makes you a more moral human being,” say the other two. Not surprisingly, all four want to enter government service.
Just when we were wondering if there where any girls we could talk to, we meet a bunch of third years. They are all rather shy, though. After some prodding, one of them, Reshma Raj, says: “I think preventing pandemics like Ebola is the next big challenge for doctors. How equipped we will be to deal with it, I don’t know. Most women doctors these days chose to specialise in fields such as radiology, which is difficult to get into, but is comparatively easy work. What we actually need is professionals working in the field of tropical medicine. Maintaining the quality of medicine practised is going to be a challenge and, in adddition, its increasingly becoming difficult to maintain the doctor-patient relationship.”
Sitting in a shaded space near the entrance of the college and listening to their seniors is a trio of curious soon-to-be second year students, Jefrin J., Amal Ahamed and Manoj Manu. “As a doctor, one cannot afford to sit on the sidelines of society. A doctor should be a good leader and that would be a challenge for any student of medicine,” says Amal, adding that it also takes a strong will power to be a good doctor.
Next up is Jibin James along with his batch mates from the third year, Bharath Shaji, Amjad Ali, Naveen R. Masood Khan, Rahul M. Nair and Alwin Thomas.
“The challenges? The workload, waking up on time…” says Alwin, eliciting laughter from his friends. “That and being on our best behaviour all the time and looking presentable when we meet patient,” chuckles Masood. “Maintaining dignity of the profession, shouldering responsibility, finding satisfaction in the field you chose,” chips in Amjad.
On a more serious note Jibin says: “I think decision-making in critical situations is going to be a big challenge. I am positive that we all will rise up to whatever challenges life throws at us.”
(A monthly column on views from the campus)
