#Savethedoctor is a sad situation. A social sickness is becoming a social evil. Beating up anyone is not recommended for your health. Beating up doctors is even worse for your health. If you hit us anywhere, you are at risk because, we need all our body parts, our brain and mental peace to work.

What kind of message does the higher authority want to give? Poor infrastructure and shiny toy syndrome seem to be a favorite, with buildings and medical colleges cropping up everywhere. But with no attention to quality.

It remains our duty as doctors, to tell people the truth.

Why you need to Save the Doctor

I had to tell a relative of a child that there was a lack of PICU(pediatric ICU), at a Government hospital. The poor man looked shocked. He said, what are you saying, doctor? But all authorities proclaim everything is available? I had to tell him the truth while taking informed consent for a procedure, and that’s where the problem often starts.

Another funny(horror movie funny) incident, was when I examined a patient with a mutton bolus, stuck in his through. The person was in an alcohol-induced stupor. After reviewing the inebriated patient, in the operation theatre, I transferred him to the surgical ward, for necessary investigation, until surgery could be done.

Suddenly after some time, there was a mob of around thirty people creating a rampage in the ward, claiming no doctor had examined him. One of them started banging the table and threatening me. On asking what the problem was, they shouted,

Why did a senior doctor, not see the patient.

I was surprised, and with shaking heart, went to the patient’s bedside. There were thirty goons surrounding me. On seeing the same patient, I asked him,

Sir, didn’t you meet me at the operation theatre with a meat bolus?

The man gave a smile said, oh yes. I just didn’t think it was a lady doctor who was a senior doctor! I was speechless. Suddenly I realized the goons were missing. I heaved a sigh of relief and decided to inform my superiors, about this shocking incident.

Incidentally, the patients elder brother came. He apologized saying few neighborhood youths had done this behavior voluntarily, with none of their relatives participating. That incident was a big part of my decision to resign from Government service. We as doctors never wanted this situation, and I have a few things to share.

If you are sure about negligence in treatment:

1)Complain to hospital authorities and change doctor. (Recommended)

2)Kindly go to a doctor relative or take care of own treatment(not recommended).

3)Complain to Healthcare administrative authorities.

4)Go to court.

You have rights. We have too. The definition of health includes social health too. For that everyone is responsible.

This social malady of beating up doctors have two solution

1)That which is happening and a doomsday forecast

2) Exemplary punishment against current criminals and previous ones

#Savethedoctors 

Doctors of Kolkata Protest and you Need to do it too! Wait this is not a movie trailer and you will not find placard holding film stars and artists of  Bengali-Hindi movie industries protesting. Guess why?

What kind of society has Doctor-beaters roaming around? The kind where child rapists, terrorists, and murderers roam around too and get second chances.

When doctors feel a lack of security, it’s a sad situation. We as doctors have empathy, for all persons who are suffering. Anyone who is a medical student or is a doctor is doing so because they want to serve. But to serve you need mental wellness and environment compatible with this.

How can things like this happen with no repercussions?

The event

Death of an eighty-year-old patient, followed by a two hundred strong mob beating up doctors and putting a young doctor in ICU with a depressed skull fracture and intracranial hemorrhage. The young doctor’s treatment is strangely enough being done at a private neurosurgical institute.

I rarely write posts, which show the negative side of healthcare services. But today’s unfortunate event made me so sad,I had to share with my readers. This is an unfortunate day for everyone. My dear readers, bookmark this in your memory. If you think, this is an isolated event and will not affect you, think again. Doctors are part of social pillars, just like journalists, and everyone else. Once you break down pillars, you can repair them, but the crack will always show.

Will making bridge course doctors solve problems like this? Will increasing lateral entry doctors at the periphery and making stricter referral rules help?No way. It will just precipitate the impending doomsday. This is a social problem of disbalance, between expectation and reality. Doctor’s can help, but can we start talking about the maladies that affect ?

Are all deaths because of negligence? Do people only die because of negligence?

The post mortem report of the alleged neglected patient failed to reveal negligence. But the young doctor has already been beaten up and is now fighting for his life. This is an immediate problem and he needs all our prayers. But the bigger problem is, when this lack of trust, starts affecting the doctor-patient relationship. Health and healing is part of a bigger picture. It cannot and will not happen in isolation. It needs help from individual, administration, doctors and the general public.

[bctt tweet=”Health and healing is part of a bigger picture. It cannot and will not happen in isolation. It needs help from the individual, administration, doctors and the general public.” username=”misra_amrita”]

Is free healthcare a measure of quality?

People who are always judging doctors, need to start sitting for NEET and get enrolled in medical courses. Serve in Government hospitals and see first hand, the kind of effort and empathy this needs. Doctors are endangered species and your health care needs will be unmet in the future, even with all sorts of free health schemes. Guess why?

Because doctors will no longer treat.AI will treat and personal medical attention will be affordable only to the elite and well-connected people. Just like home visits by doctors are rare nowadays, meeting a doctor in person may be a thing of the past.

Are you ready? Do you think beating up people is a sign of a civilized, healthy society?