Dr. Arun Mitra
Smile on the face of the patient is a matter of great satisfaction for a doctor. This gives a feeling of being triumphant over the disease, a feeling which gives confidence and motivation to carry on the work further. But there are failures too. Failures and errors are part of any profession. Every failure is a challenge to introspect, to find the causes of the failure and to set them right to do better next time. In the medical profession every case is a challenge. This is because we treat humans, and humans have emotions; every person has a different emotional background and buildup.
The medical profession has its own hazards associated with of which the doctors are well aware of. There are several reports that doctors have been taken ill while treating the patients. Many have developed tuberculosis, HIV AIDS, Hepatitis or have fallen prey to viral infections. But despite this the doctors have dedicated themselves to the healthcare of the society. They have given services during violent situations at the cost of their lives. The medical science has reached present day stage because of hard work and research done by researchers and the doctors, sometimes risking their own lives. Convincing the people to come out of myths and develop scientific outlook towards medical care has not been easy.
Even though by and large the society has given due respect to the doctors and taken them as next to god, but there have been disturbing instances too. There are instances when doctors have been subjected to mob violence injuring them. Most of the time, it is the young upcoming doctors who have to bear the brunt. But still they have not run away from their duties. Such events have happened during the present COVID-19 days also. In one instance two young female doctors were beaten by the miscreant; in another the police beat them causing fracture. Nursing and Paramedical staff too had to bear such situations. The ASHA workers too were manhandled by the police. In still other cases doctors and other health staff have been asked to vacate the rented accommodation because of fear of infection from them as they are treating the COVID-19 patients. Interestingly such people were in the fore front to bang thaalis and ghanties.
Doctors are however vulnerable to various pressures and socio politico economic situations. These situations may vary with time and societal setup. There are however some events when the doctors land up into a dilemma and indecisiveness as to what is to be done. Ethically a doctor is expected to care any patient to the best of her/his ability. But it may not hold true under all circumstances. This has been observed globally that in situations of terrorism / civil wars / ethnic strife or aggressions medical personnel are under pressure and threats. There are several instances when the doctor treated a patient under pressure from terrorist group but next day he was rounded up by the police for questioning. During 2nd world war, several German doctors were forced to remove gold from the teeth of the prisoners and even carry out experiments on them without their consent knowing well that it would cause serious harm to that person. This the doctors did unwillingly.
During the lockdown, the doctors in the state sector and some private sector engaged for the COVID-19, are working as frontline healthcare providers to the COVID-19 patients. Mostly the young doctors are getting exposed. They are doing this despite the fact that in many cases they do not have prescribed PPEs to protect themselves. Such health personnel need to be saluted.
But it is sad that many doctors in the private setup have closed their clinics because of the fear of getting infected even though many of them have no illness and are not in the vulnerable age group. They have no excuse to refuse the treatment and can very well buy the PPEs for themselves and their staff. This attitude is against the Hippocratic Oath and basic medical values. There are some who are doing Video conferencing with the patients. Videoconferencing is no replacement to direct conversation with the patient. At a time when even the young teenagers are filled with anxiety and extreme tension, direct conversation is the only way to help them. The argument that we must survive to save more patients in future does not hold ground. It amounts to escapism. Doctors in health care emergencies are like soldiers. What will happen if they decide to run away from the battle ground? There is need to train the doctors to work under any situation like the soldiers who stand by and sacrifice their lives for the cause of others.
It is time to learn lessons from those who are working in the hardest situations to provide health services uncaring the restrictions of the national boundaries. It is painful to listen to people talk that doctors have become businessmen. We have to prove otherwise that we are dedicated to care of the sick and the infirm under any circumstances. (IPA)
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