Doctor’s community in the capital is on self-congratulatory mode on the occasion of Doctors’ Day, observed across the country to honour physician and former West Bengal Chief Minister, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, who was born on July 1, 1882 and died on the same day in 1962. He also received highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna, in 1961. While Sunday was marked by get-togethers and felicitation programmes, senior physicians felt that a little bit of introspection, in addition to plaudits, is needed. Many regret the changing relationship, or the lack of it, between doctors and patients. There was a time when doctors were considered as Gods. These days, however, patients doubt the judgement and decision of the doctor. A second opinion has become a must. Internet research on doctor’s ‘prescription’ has become mandatory. The patient, essentially, has lost faith on caregivers.
“There is no mutual respect anymore. Neither the doctor tries to connect emotionally with the patient nor do the patients give enough respect in return. The doctor-patient relationship has changed drastically in the last two decades. Commercialisation and dilution of ethics among doctors are major reasons for such a situation,” feels former principal of Gandhi Medical College, Dr. Pradeep Deshpande.
There is a general sense that a majority of doctors have succumbed to commercialisation. A phenomenon quite ably elucidated by noted commentator on medical ethics Dr. B. M. Hegde during his recent visit.
“The moment patients’ walk-in, the doctor sizes them up. They change treatment protocols depending on patient’s financial stability, insurance cover and social background,” he said during a talk on medical ethics.
“A person paid a consultation fee of Rs. 500 to meet me. He looked healthy so I asked who was the patient. The person said that the patient, who was his brother, is already dead. The person came to me just to take a second opinion about his dead brother. There is no trust at all,” a senior doctor rued.
“The situation was not like this when there were only government hospitals. Private hospitals entered and medical care was commercialised,” is a common refrain from senior doctors. “Young MBBS doctors should strike a bond with patients. Because, in India alone, a young PG student can treat a patient while in other countries they are not even allowed to touch,” doctors said.
