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| Society & Doctor | | | Dr. (Prof) Rakesh Saraf Dr. Sanjay K. Bhasin | 12/7/2011 12:20:36 AM |
| Society values and attitudes impact individuals and professions. Similar is the case with Medical Profession, once designated as Nobel Profession and representative section of the profession i.e. Doctors as Demigods. The profession is now viewed more as Business industry and doctors as Businessmen. Once Doctors were worshipped; now they are viewed with suspicion. The blame for degradation of the profession goes to the Society rather than to Doctors and that is why the title stands as Society & Doctor and not Doctors & Society.
Society Today:
The society today is concerned with modernization. And modernization is a comprehensive concept that includes goals of social, economic, political development for all round developments. While adopting strategies to achieve the goal one has to rely much upon science and technology which is betterf developed in the west. Modernization in India has been a process of Westernization and unfortunately while doing so the Indian society has followed the process of ADOPTION and not ASSIMILATION of Western ideas and culture. Downslide of science and technology when it is adopted only and not assimilated is that goals of social, economic and political development get translated into acquisition of wealth, power, prestige, good things of life, self-centeredness, and sensual pleasures. Money gets overvalued. A thought process is coming into the mind of individuals that without plenty of money there is no social recognition and acceptance.
Some categories of services wield considerable power and influence (Bureaucrats, ministers, MP/MLA, Police officers, Corporate Sector, Mafia Dons) and their style of life becomes a model for many other sections of the society to emulate including Doctors. Doctors today have also started adopting and reflecting the values of the society. While doing so, in individuals' cases if one is unable to achieve self set goals (wealth, power, prestige, good things of life and sensual pleasures) there is frustration, anger, restlessness, jealousy etc. This compels individuals to adopt all and any means and thus indulge in corruption, scams, crimes, sophisticated form of violence, overt and subtle exploitation of fellow human beings, wide social inequality and so on. Most of these are perpetuated by the 'educated lot' of the Society. Unfortunately none in the Society (individuals, groups, social organizations, religious organization, politicians etc) is showing any concern with respect to ways and means adopted for acquiring wealth, power and prestige. It looks if the society has started following the policy of 'ends justifying the means'. Much hue and cry is raised over corruption and scams but same set of people raising hue and cry will also indulge in the same if the opportunity comes their way.
This gives a feel if the society has become perverted. So where is the place of honesty, patience, tolerance, perseverance, service, mutual understanding and regards, concept of joint family system, peace and blessedness as well as meaning of fulfilled life? We think nowhere presently. Downslide of science and technology when it is adopted and not assimilated is devaluation of human beings, treating human beings as objects only as means to further one's interests, dehumanization, self-centeredness, and over evaluation of money. All these changes in the Society are getting reflected in social, economic and political affairs as well as professions including Medical Profession.
Doctors Today:
Doctors are part of society and are influenced by the culture of modernization prevailing in the Society. Doctors today have not only adopted but are also reflecting the values of society. So why is Society angry with Doctors? If the process goes on Society shall be getting the Doctors it deserves. As you sow so shall you reap? So Society is going to receive the services at par with values it espouses.
An outstanding character of Doctors today seems to be their self-centeredness, their overriding concern with their own ambition and frustration. The present day social values and attitudes are reflected when Doctors go for acquisitive achievements - money, power and prestige. From the prevailing scenario in the Society it appears so much so that majority of the times the Doctor will provide his/her service only when and where he/she is assured of such rewards. So whenever Doctors experience conditions of work unsatisfactory for professional, personal, and social reasons, they immediately think of migrating to an alternative set up. The commitment to profession is weak, commitment to the departments is weak and there is reluctance to support departmental objectives and goals. Our education both general and medical has reduced us to acquisition of qualification and money, resulting in Doctors unwilling to concentrate on what they can give to the Society, rather they think of getting something in return. We have started lacking in social empathy and human empathy. We have started applying overt and covert means of exploiting patients rather than providing service to them. Our prescription and treatment and concern with disease are less for the patient and more for our own greed. There are inducements from the pharmaceutical companies. This has vitiated medical care leading to consumerism. These are directed towards fulfilling the goals and objectives of companies. Doctor's relationships with patients now a day are influenced by patient's economic, social and political connection or position.
In the past Doctor's main priority used to be to increase the health of patient, including listening to emotional stress and helping to alleviate that if possible. Doctors used to sacrifice their comforts for the sake of patients. That was the reason the Society used to hold doctors in high regards and they used to be considered as Demi-gods and Medical Profession as Noble Profession. Today society views that doctor's own interests supersedes patient's interests (un-necessary operations, fee-splitting, and conflict of interest).
Our Perspective of Saving the Profession:
1 Doctors must adopt fundamental values of life- truth, faith, patience, fearlessness and purity. Added to it is the fact that Society must not over value money as is the prevailing scenario. Society heals thyself that shall also get reflected to the doctors.
2. Political and bureaucratic over activism is also having direct influence on the changing attitude of doctors. Politicians and bureaucrats lecture too much to doctors on what they ought to be. Doctors are treated shabbily by the governments, even trod upon like dirt. Added to it is the fact that Doctors are treated shabbily by even their own colleagues who have administrative control. Lack of recognition of the services of Doctors by the Society including Politicians, Bureaucrats and Senior Colleagues also adds to the frustration of Doctors thereby, changing their attitude towards their profession as well as patients. Doctors as a profession do not receive due recognition and respect from government and public. Only when Doctors develop connections and acquire money he is accepted by Society. All these things are to taken into consideration and remedial measures adopted.
3. At the working places doctors must be provided with basic amenities like washrooms, examination rooms, retiring rooms that infact improves work efficiencies. Due recognition of their services shall be moral boosting.
4. Seniors must not believe in the theory of exploitation. Greater interest in the welfare of patients and colleagues especially juniors should be of paramount importance. Doctors must realize that the Medical profession implies service, service to the patient. Doctors must also realize that service implies sacrifice and Patient's interests always supersede Doctor's interests. Know the patient first before knowing his disease. It should be realized by Doctors that they are not doing favor to the patients by treating them. Rather patients do a favor to the doctors by giving him an opportunity to take care of patients. Doctors shall be thankful to patients for improving their 'Karma'(Positive way of helping humanity in need).
5. Supportive manpower in adequate number like Nurses, paramedical staff and other supporting staff shall ally physical and mental tension of the doctors. Otherwise it adversely affects their attitudes. It is useless to have buildings, machines and equipments without ensuring adequate number of medical and paramedical manpower. This shall allow Doctors to work in smooth and conducive atmosphere.
6. Present generation of senior medical fraternity have to be role models for younger generation of Doctors in right perspectives. Honesty, positive attitude, dedication and commitment to the profession and cause of human sufferings shall be the criteria for a perfect role model.
7. Monetary gains should be the third priority if not the last, first patient, second profession.
And we all must believe in the Hollywood Actress Rosario Dawson saying: I'd love to be the first one to say this, but it automatically turns into: we all have those responsibilities that we ignore because we don't feel like they're ours.
From the prevailing trends in the society it comes to the mind: Why Society wants Doctors to be Jesus Christ? Why society is angry with Doctors? From the prevailing scenario in the society it is assumed that Medical Profession is more sinned against than sinning. Both Doctors and Society must venture to save this so called noble profession from further degradation, that shall be in the better interest of one and all. |
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