Integrity of Doctors

The recent incident, that took place in a government hospital in Kolkata, where a junior doctor was brutally beaten up by the relatives of a patient, who died in hospital, had made the headline in news papers almost all across the country. It is indeed a heinous act which cannot and should not be supported in any condition. But, while everybody is busy investigating what happened and criticizing the government for the same, I certainly regard this incident from entirely different point of view.  

As I am a frequent visitor to Kolkata Medical College hospital for last six years, due to my health issue, I personally realized few issues which perhaps the root of such outrage. Before, I may proceed with my own contemplation; I would like to discuss and praise those sincere doctors in government hospitals for their relentless efforts to keep their patient fit and healthy. From my personal experience I can certainly say that there are doctors in government hospitals who are more than compassionate to their patient. In fact in my own case, I have been treated by some of the doctors who not only showed sympathy for my problem but also helped me with many useful suggestions, which certainly is a rare sight in hospital.   

Nonetheless, unlike those sincere doctors there are few who do not seem to take up this respected profession of ‘Doctor’ with the passion to serve their patient but to only show off their whim on their patient. Just like I had some good experience in government hospitals where I have been treated by the most sincere doctors, I too suffered a great loss due to some irresponsible doctors. However, I do not wish to discuss my own grievances here. I just like to share few of my experiences which are quite relevant with this case. There are some junior doctors who do not only misbehave with their patient but also showed indiscipline attitude during their visiting time. 

It is well understood that they have to work hard and deal with different people, which may often cause for them to lose their temper. But the basic factor that should be overlooked here is that a doctor should always keep his/her integrity intact while treating patient. I have often seen that doctors having food and treating their patient in a jovial mood. There is nothing wrong in taking food but the approach of taking food with their colleague while treating patient should no way mirror the culture of the ‘club room’. Although it may sound strange but I have seen such environment in the outdoor campus of government hospital. 

Last week when I was coming back from Medical college hospital, completing my regular check-up, suddenly I noticed that the entrance of a newly build, well decorated building, within the hospital premises was full of posters depicting the slogan of junior doctors “ no Security no work”. Then I noticed that there were several posters with such revolutionary slogans of junior doctors, which were stuck in almost all the buildings of the surrounding area of the hospital. It really surprised me that despite their high qualification and association with the hospital as a junior doctor how they could make such beautiful building dirty with those posters. If the educated class of our society can’t show minimum respect and responsibility for the upliftment of our society than how could we expect the underprivileged class to behave with dignity? 

Moreover, one thing should be realized that patient and their family come to hospital for treatment because they are in trouble. So somebody who is already into trouble if he/she or their families are being harassed with unnecessary factors than conflicts is meant to take place. Thus, keeping the basic purpose for the patients and their families to visit hospital, if they can be well served then certainly the possibility of any conflict will be quite least. Above all, we must not forget that doctors are the one who can only save our lives and make this world a beautiful place. Therefore, we must show respect and gratitude to them for their unconditional effort to save lives.