On Doctor’s Day, Dr. AK Lal delves into the unspoken hardships faced by doctors – violence, societal pressures, and the dilemma of inspiring future generations.
Dr. AK Lal
The noble profession of medicine, much like motherhood, plays a pivotal role in welcoming a new life into this world.
From the moment an embryo starts growing in a mother’s womb, doctors commit to safeguarding both the mother and child.
Their unwavering support spans every stage, from birth to maintaining health.
In earlier times, Vaidyas and midwives, armed with knowledge and experience, catered to patients’ health needs.
Today, becoming a doctor requires years of rigorous study and relentless hard work. After taking the solemn Hippocratic oath, doctors step into a world filled not just with disease and pain but often with the hostility and incivility of patients’ families.
Indeed, even the doctors, often viewed as divine healers, grapple with hardships.
Over the years, the condition of doctors has significantly changed. Now, they face the daunting challenge of ensuring their safety alongside treating patients. Frequent reports of doctors being attacked within their workplaces have sparked considerable debate. Despite being life-savers, legal protection for doctors remains woefully inadequate. While we honor physicians on National Doctor’s Day on July 1st, we must question, are our doctors safe today?
The pressures confronting today’s doctors are multifaceted, encompassing physical, mental, economic, and social aspects. According to the Indian Medical Association, a staggering 75% of doctors in India have experienced some form of violence in their workplaces. It’s disheartening to witness the rise in hostility, verbal abuse, threats, and even physical attacks towards medical professionals.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, doctors selflessly risked their lives to serve patients, yet this period also saw a surge in violence against them.
The field teams involved in testing faced instances of assault and stone-pelting, a distressing revelation.
A doctor’s role is not just a professional commitment but also a source of emotional satisfaction. We dedicate ourselves to the patient’s well-being, often going days without sleep. The public seldom grasps the immense mental strain a doctor undergoes daily.
Hence, the unwarranted aggression from patients or their attendants is unjustifiable. After all, we too have limits; we aren’t divine, are we?
The surge of negativity in society seems to overshadow the positive aspects.
Even in my workplace, where the OPD services are free, patients sometimes display inappropriate attitudes towards doctors. Such incidents gradually erode a doctor’s enthusiasm and self-satisfaction, ultimately harming society at large.
Our healthcare system is still evolving and requires significant improvements. The high patient load and mounting work pressure, coupled with personal responsibilities and administrative burdens, are overwhelming.
In light of such pressures and increasing violence, it’s disheartening to see doctors dissuading their children from joining the profession.
All doctors, irrespective of their practice and specialization, work under enormous stress. How can one maintain an empathetic and patient-friendly approach under such circumstances?
The economic challenges associated with the profession further exacerbate these pressures.
In the midst of all this, physical violence from patients’ families is incredibly demotivating. As a result, doctors are increasingly reluctant to encourage their children to follow in their footsteps.
If this trend persists, it could exacerbate the already serious shortage of doctors in our country.
