Being a patient is a bad phase of life. But being a patient these days is even worse. One may argue that we are at the peak of technological advances in medical science, so why do I say so?
Here’s why.
All the tech news which makes people hopeful of a cancer-free future, custom designed babies, ageless bodies and limitless mind are basically infant researches that rarely trickles down into everyday practice. So patients have high hopes and expectations when they go to the doctor, and severe dejection and disappointment when the truth breaks upon them.
What follows is a chain of panic attack and frustration to overcome the helplessness and the urge to go to any extent for getting the ‘best possible’ treatment for their loved ones.
Add the following if you are in India: Suspicion towards your doctor. Negative news and hearsay rolling in your mind. The tempting option of ‘cheap, quick fix’ popular treatments by dubious doctors. Godmen selling blind faith, at temptingly low cost with money back guarantee. Google search to further confuse the patient.
Medical science is a gradually evolving, reverse engineering way of looking at things, which makes it less exact than say automobile or electronic technology. This essentially means a margin of unpredictability and acceptance of that uncertainty by the patient as an outcome of his treatment. It also means accepting the limitations of the doctor in his ability to save your life.
All of that; faith in the doctor, acceptance of death, patience, belief in destiny used to be there some decades back. My silver-haired teachers tell us stories of doing life-saving procedures with little or no supporting investigations and basic equipment, in their days, and patients would live to thank them for the rest of their lives.
The same teachers now warn us of being extra cautious before taking any irreversible decision for the patient. Today these teachers discuss stories of medical negligence, compensation money, jail and what not brought upon them for apparently ‘ failing in their duties’ as seen in the court of law.
What essentially follows is an endless battery of investigations to ‘play safe’.
See, faith does not require proof or cost money. But the evidence, as accepted in the court of law, requires hard reason on paper, for which expensive tests and investigations are used. They cost money. And who pays for it? the patient. Who should pay for it ?the government or the insurance companies. How many patients fall under the blanket of insurance? a minority figure.
If we can have faith in the government which produces scams after scams. If we can have faith in the news channels which have really low standards and no moral/ ethical reigns. If we can have faith in Godmen. We obviously believe in anything that’s cheap and quick fix. Then why not pay up fair fees to that one human being who has spent prime of his life in understanding the ailments of others and is qualified enough to help you, the patient.
Doctor’s are scammers no less, I have been told so many times. But I believe we as Indians are not self-disciplined enough, to be honest when no one’s looking. This reflects in every sphere of life. But in medical science, it hurts literally to be at the receiving end of a bad deal, and that’s what multiplies the anger many times. But there are black sheep in every profession, just that in other professions it is expected, and dealt with in a business-like manner.
In healthcare, it is coloured in moral shades and made a sympathy weaving spectacle in the news, which people consume with rapt attention.
Healthcare in India is a flourishing business and sadly so, business and morals don’t always go hand in hand.
Scams of thousands of crores don’t affect us in real life, or so we think. But an extra rupee charged by the doctor tears the patient like a spear.
So, I’ll close this long essay with request to the reader to educate themselves about the limitations of their treatment, prognosis of the diseases and above all, have faith in your doctor. ( and eat well, don’t believe hearsay, get a good insurance)
Update 2020 : all of the above still holds true. You can reach me here and here.
Video of the day :
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