Most physicians, across the world take an Hippocratic Oath when they officially take on their responsibilities--- this oath, in layman terms means that a physician or Doctor will treat his patient to the best of his ability and that saving the life of a patient is his first and foremost duty, he will also, under no circumstances, abandon his patient and refuse to offer him treatment. However, as much as this oath is humane and heart-warming, it is fast losing its relevance in the era of commercialization of healthcare.
A century ago, the concept of specialized doctors was almost non-existent and people more or less relied on the good-old hakim orvaidya to treat themselves, no matter what the condition was. Mostly prescribing a concoction of herbs, these hakims were not considered anything less than Demi-Gods since they nursed back people back to health.
However, lately the trust and faith in the doctor-patient relationship has eroded beyond belief. This is in part largely the fault of the doctors. Doctors either practice defensive medicine (thus prescribe unnecessary tests or medications) to avoid litigation or because of commercialization of healthcare would perform procedures that are beneficial to them and not necessarily to the patient.
Add to that, there is also a moral responsibility one has to undertake when treating a patient --- questions like “will this medicine actually do any good or will it simply add on to the mounting bill?” or “Is this blood test really necessary?” or “Should I ask my patient to wait till I take this personal call?” can actually help a doctor take an ethically higher ground and tower above the rest, not just in treatment, but in humanity as well.
Patients too are influenced by horror stories of others experiences that flourish on the internet and half knowledge gained by becoming “Google doctors”
In spite of the influx of new medicines and miracle surgeries, people are falling more and more sick these days and medical centers are becoming more and more commercialized --- everything is computerized, there is fancy equipment for tests and to get an appointment with a doctor, you might sometimes have to wait for hours at a stretch. And of course apart from this, there are gourmet food stores, fancy lounges and plush waiting rooms in the hospital. While all these things are good for those who can afford it and also in some ways help alleviate the distressing feeling one associates with hospitals, it can also in some cases, take away attention from what should be the sole purpose of a hospital --- providing medical care.
Doctors today underestimate the power of a touch, a smile and kind word, which have the potential to turn a life around. It can make you feel better if doctor assures you that everything is going to be okay --- also, it gives you that much-needed fighting spirit to help you face your condition.
Of course, there is another school of thought that opines that doctors have to be tough in order to excel at their profession--- they can’t let emotions rule them. However, what in fact, is needed from medical practitionerstoday is empathy, not sympathy. Simply understanding what the patient is going through is enough to make a person feel better.
This apart, care should also be taken to ensure that medical facilities are available to all irrespective of their colour, caste or standing in society and even though, government hospitals do cover a lot of these points, they often lack the modern day facilities of a big hospital --- what is in fact needed is an amalgamation of the two.
At the end of the day, doctors are humans too and to expect them to perform miracles each time is unfair. Yet a pat on the back, a smile on the face and a few assuring words can make the transition from “sick to healthy” all the more smoother.
Dr. (Col) Manjinder Sandhu, is Medical Director and Director-Cardiology, Artemis Hospitals. He is an interventional cardiologist with an illustrious experience and a distinguished post graduate teacher, with many international fellowships to his credit. He is an accomplished healthcare leader who motivates his colleagues by leading from the front.
Artemis Hospitals provides world class tertiary healthcare with a strong focus on ethics, which is an unbeatable combination in today’s world.
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