To be a good doctor, first be patient
Amonth ago, a health issue forced me to visit a super-speciality private hospital in a metro. It turned out to be a disconcerting experience. The first thing that hit me as I entered the hospital was the atmosphere. Cabs and private cars queued up at the portico where guards and hovering escorts ushered in patients with aplomb. Once inside, a wide open lobby and the smell of brewing coffee made me feel as if I had entered a five star hotel’s café.
I was also impressed with the eclectic mix of patients and the crowd of fashionably dressed people. My eyes couldn’t help but admire the smartly turned out young women noting down blood pressure and weighing machine readings.
The outpatient waiting room was full, and I hurried when it was my turn to see my saviour. As I tried to list down my suffering to him, he handed me a prescription as if words spoken by me had no role in the actual treatment. The doctor, exuding competence, steered me to a battery of tests and high-priced medications, while asking his junior to brief me about the various packages. Shocked, I rushed out in exasperation.
True, hospitals are built by investors with state-of-the-art technology, so it is only natural for them to expect handsome returns, but does the patient not deserve a few minutes to tell his tale? This marriage of cure and commerce, pulse and purse make me miss my old general physician, the family doctor who would keep the treatment simple. The moment you were down with flu or fever, he would come around in a jiffy, put the stethoscope on your chest, feel the pulse, look at your tongue, make you breathe deeply, and say ‘aah.’ Years of experience enabled him to make a quick and usually accurate diagnosis. You took the medicine religiously and sooner or later felt fit and fine. If he thought you were suffering from something serious, he would direct you to a nearby hospital. Such doctors are rare now. A recent study published by the British Medical Journal reveals that the average length of medical consultation in India is two minutes per patient. Strange that in this age of scientific and medical wonder, the world is becoming sicker than ever, treatments more expensive, and trust deficit between doctor and patient more pronounced. Gone are the days when a worried patient would say ‘send for a doctor’.
I remember once my father had high blood pressure and our family doctor said, “It’s blood pressure again. Don’t tell me you’ve fallen in love.” My father gave a full throated laughter and his stress got washed away. Such was the bond between a doctor and patient. Money was only incidental.
I miss those doctors who would pat you on the shoulder and say, “Nothing to worry about. You’re going to be fine”.
This bedside manner actually helps.
Personal touch in patient care does wonders. Such is the psychology of illness and wellness. Even today, we have doctors who lend an eager ear to patients, thereby rendering great service to humanity. Yet much distance needs to be covered to achieve holistic healing.
PERSONAL TOUCH IN PATIENT CARE DOES WONDERS. SUCH IS THE PSYCHOLOGY O F ILLNESS AND WELLNESS