HAPPY DOCTORS' DAY (1 JULY 2021)

 

It is a matter of pride that some of us are fortunate to have access to physicians, if not all. Our health is directly proportional to the number and quality of medical advice and infrastructure associated. I often recall some of my associations with doctors, and forget few others, who are exploitative. On this day, I will like to recall Dr. Jitendra Singh, son of our colleague Dr. S R Singh, Geneticist in Division of Genetics, IARI, New Delhi. Dr. Jitendra will always be ready to reach any one when called, while we were staying at Hostel Apartments in Pusa Institute. He was social, jovial and likeable man. I remember participating in his marriage and said that most of us, baraatis, were those from association with him and his father, as if we were more of his relatives per se. Unfortunately, Dr. Singh suffered from illness, as a result he was in hospital for many months. Our hearts bled while talking about him. At one point, doctors had given up hope and asked him to be shifted to home, until he breathed his last. But destiny had other plans. As he lived in home after discharge; he recovered from almost death’s jaws. He had denied entry to Yamraj, messenger God of death who carries away a soul and leave behind lifeless body. On this day, I wish him happy doctors’ day and greet his family, especially his wife who never lost hope of his recovery. A remarkable lady with steely resolve to overcome all grief and equally capable daughters!

I also wish happy doctors’ day to those who selflessly carry out their duties. One such physician that I came across was Dr. Agarwal of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, who after examining me, tore the prescription and asked me to seek advice of other specialist. On offering to pay for his consultation, he said NO. Another doctor that we met was Dr. Agarwal, surgeon who had operated upon my wife and never charged for dressings that she had to get changed every week.

I wish both of them a very happy doctors’ day.

I also wish others too. Unfortunately, some doctors out-rightly showed selfishness while dealing with patients. They asked for expensive tests to be carried out without telling what relevance their results had. Some were impatient while discussing the case. One of the orthopaedics in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital was quite arrogant, as my mother-in-law wanted to seek clarification. He refused to talk again, as he felt that patient was not attentive when he was advising. Often, patients are quite depressive due to their own suffering and are in their own thoughts. Doctors need to be compassionate as not every patient will be attentively listening to them and will be able to understand quickly what they prescribe. My own orthopaedic doctor often exuded confidence every time I met him for consultation. Such is a power of doctor that on seeing them, patients feel that 50% of their sufferings have vanished.

Last time, I saw a note on the doctors’ door. “Leave Your WhatsApp knowledge at this door step”.  I wish, he should have loved to talk to such patient who took trouble to gather all information about the disease and kind of treatment doctor was advising. But not this doctor who felt slighted as the patient asked questions. Questions howsoever idiotic, innocent and even with ulterior motive are questions, and must be answered. Doctor is not only prescribing medicines that cure, but instilling confidence in the patient to be positive to overcome the problem. Positive thoughts have always played greater role in recovery.

Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and this year 2021 tested doctor-patient relationship. Many top class doctors in our country and others came forward on mass media to educate the people, talk about the pandemic and assure people that this too will pass. We will win over this pandemic with covid appropriate behaviour and medication.  And in deed, with their help and support, we are winning over. Many doctors worked day and night, ignoring their own health and of their family needs. Some succumbed to Covid. We all remember them. I feel most appropriate homage to these deceased doctors will be that all eligible citizens get jabs of vaccines. Unfortunately, some of our doctors did not get jabs of vaccines or were heavily exposed to the disease to recover or did not get all medical support that they needed.

Covid-19 pandemic has also opened up ways of consulting doctors far away on internet. And this is a dream come true as this new method of consultation for some will cut short long trips and waiting at the doctors’ clinics. A fall out is most of us became internet savvy.

I am glad that I have some doctor relatives and friends. Hope you too have them. I remember them too on this day.

Doctors, we love you all. Wishing you a great Happy Doctors Day.