People
depend on doctors for their health and wellbeing. Most doctors admit that their precious moments
with the patient are at their serious stage after following up with them all
along. It saddens them. And if they fail, they are hurt even more. But like
every other profession doctors try their best too. Sometimes it is just not
possible to save a patient and people have to accept it. But does that mean our
doctors become les valued? In fact, how much do we actually value our doctors
in Goa?
Many
doctors are horrified with the incidents of violence against doctors that took
place in Calcutta recently, where a people purportedly from the patient’s side
hit the doctor. “What occurred in Calcutta was terrible, but I feel safe in Goa
and I think all my patients understand my worth,” states Dr Edelweiss Dsa, Physician. Dr Dsa says that Goa is different, in Goa
people tend to understand. Patients have a close connection with their doctors.
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“Maybe it is because of the difference in
population between Goa and the other states,” mentions Dr Edelweiss. She
explains that in other places like Mumbai or Delhi there is a vast crowd and
number of patients, hence the probability of developing a doctor-patient
relationship is less. “The patient might just come to visit me once and they
won’t return again, so if I were in Bombay and they try violence they might
disappear and never come back. This is why Goa is safe. Also, it is not just in
our nature,” she expresses.
Nephrologist Dr Amol Mahaldar diagnoses the
problem correctly when he says, ‘Goa has traditionally respected and valued he
medical professionals, but there is a recent trend of unreal expectations from
families. People have to understand that doctors can save some patients, try to
alleviate suffering in most and the family has to accept all possible outcomes
with an open mind”.
Resident of Moira Seema D’mello shares the
experience she has with her doctor. “I always appreciate my doctor every time I
go for appointments. Even though I may not be able to return back the favor, at
least by giving doctors the respect they deserve is a must. It’s not about
money here. Doctors don’t only have to treat us medically, but they also make
us comfortable and help us to stay healthy. Maybe today we rarely see good
relationships between doctors and patients, but we must learn to maintain
that.”
Similarly, Pakkhi Bannerjee from Chicalim who
takes her little sister for dental treatment appointments claims her doctor to
be the most gentlest. “While treating her she keeps talking to my sister about
different exciting things to avoid the pain she feels. I think it’s not just her, but most of the
doctors do this. This helps build a friendly relationship with the patient.
Sometimes, doctors leave all their work and come to see their patient in a case
of emergency. Isn’t that enough? They care for us and hence need to be valued,”
she says. .
Likewise ENT Consultant and Surgeon Dr Meena
Bhadauria says that she has some of her patients coming from far; sometimes if
she’s unavailable they wait till she’s back. “Even in restaurants or cues if they
see us, immediately they will give us place to sit. Goans understand our worth,
and I doubt if this is anywhere else in India,” she confirms.
However she does admit that this generation
has begun being aggressive. “The only reason why violence exists is because of
people’s ego and aggressiveness, doctors try their best and sometimes things
may happen, but does that mean we need to be harmed? If there is a problem one
can always inform the police.” admits Dr Meena. She also supposes that some of
this aggressive behavior is influenced through media-films and TV programs.
Though doctors have been respected all along,
times are changing. With this era being aggressive and unfriendly the bond
between a patient and doctor is unpleasant. “It’s all because the world has
become more transactional. For any service provided to the public, money is
involved, so be it clients or patients, they believe that the work is being
done because they have paid us. And we do not give a 100% result they are
disappointed, this in turn decreases the value of any profession,” informs Dr
Eugene Dsilva, Gynecologist.
According to Dr Dsilva, today people
don’t cherish doctor’s much as they would earlier. He also explains that the
commitment is draining, on the part of doctors. “You don’t feel the same degree
of satisfaction while treating patients now than to those days where patients
were kind and money wasn’t a matter,” he shares.
