Probashi- Invited Article
Probashi- Invited Article
Doctor Is Next To God
DOCTOR IS NEXT TO GOD Dr . Swarnima Basu Dasgupta
They Said , " A Doctor is next to
God ...”, I never believed that . How can a doctor be next to God ?, God is Universe , larger than Life , God is Belief , God is Faith , God is Trust , God is Ray of Hope , God is Protection .... our Creator , a ' friend in need ', a ' blessing in disguise ', so how a doctor can be next to God ?
I grew up to become a Doctor myself . I then looked at the mirror . ' Do I look like God ?' ‐ I asked myself , ' No way , I looked the same good old SWARNIMA .. .’. I was relieved , and the thought of being a God , vanished from my mind . As time passed by , I got involved in the routine ‐ the OPD ' s , the Indoors , the morning and evening rounds , the reports , patients , more patients and more patients . I was posted in the Obs & Gynae department as a Jr . Resident in a Delhi Govt . Hospital . The rush for deliveries was more than what we could handle . We were in fact doing multi‐tasking between patient to patient , like a ' Merry ‐ Go ‐ Round '.
On that eventful winter night , I was on night duty , half of our Unit was on leave due to Holi , and I had handled 7 deliveries that night , and was so tired that I was almost falling down . Around 2 am , a piercing CRY at the door alerted me . A patient was rushed in with half of her baby protruding out , almost unconscious , followed by a man , starved to the neck , with a heart wrenching shout‐ " Bacha Lo doctorsaab , Bachalo mere bibi ko ".
It was an emergency , I conducted the delivery , and immediately thereafter , I saw a massive rush of blood coming out . The PPH was so severe , that I was scared to my hilt .
I had to do something ; I was too junior to handle such an emergency . I shouted for Oxytocins , channelized 2 drips and called up my Consultant for help . It was a struggle all night , and every moment , the patient was fighting for life . At one moment I thought she has passed out , but by that time , my seniors were with me , and we managed to revive the patient .
I looked at my watch , it was 10 am . I stepped out of the labour room half dead , and there I saw the husband , almost , shivering , with a white face . I said , ' Nothing to worry , your wife will survive ..' He listened to me , held my hand , and said , ' Thank you doctor , you are like God to me ..”, as tears of gratitude trickled from his eyes . And the realization struck my mind , though we as doctors do what the profession demands , yet , the patient looks up at us for protection , faith , assurance and care as God .
The power of knowledge , that we have in us , as doctors , is so immense , that we practically control a patient , his family , his wealth and his life . This power has to be controlled and tempered within the codes of conduct of Medical ethics .
Our profession is to do " Good to a patient , in any way , in any form , at any place , and as long as we can ". Our profession is to Respect our seniors , and train our juniors , never to charge them and treat each other free . Our Profession is to Respect a patient who confides with us , never divulge his problems in public , tell him the truth , tell him what treatment and medicine he requires , and allow him to take a decision . Our profession is to never indulge in Commercialization , never prescribe a medicine because someone is offering commission , never ask for a lab report , because lab pays you , never get an X ray , because you get a commission on X Rays and Ultra sounds . Our Ethics do not permit us to give guarantees to lure patients , to treat a patient even when you know you do not have expertise .
Medical Ethics in today ' s scenario has taken a serious beating . The Conscience has taken a back seat , and the ' Greed ' has taken the driving seat . The doctors today , are competing with each other , don ' t mind that extra buck that may come with extra prescription , the free holidays , the gifts and commissions , the BMW ' s and what not . The doctors want to be rich , wish to live a king size life , big houses , big cars . And it is happening , and that is why , a PG medical seat sells for Crores . So who cares for Medical Ethics , the poor patients who can ' t pay , a bleeding road side man , or a child birth not to becoming Still Birth .
The Power of Knowledge has since been taken over by Power of Money . But at the end of the day , let us not forget , we are going to grow old one day , we are going to become sick one day , we may have cancer , paralysis , heart attack , and may come under the knife of a colleagues . What would happen if the knife of a colleague is more influenced with power of money over power of knowledge ?
Let us all pray together , today , ‐ now‐ , that we shall never allow Greed to take over our profession , for I do believe , NOW , that we as Doctors are next to God .