PLIGHT OF DOCTORS
Medicine is not an exact science. It is a human quest for knowledge and effort to understand and usurp the forces of nature. In a way, mankind is trying to win over the laws of nature.
It is a constant ongoing battle and we as mankind have made a lot of progress. This progress has happened more in the last fifty years or so. Proportionate rapid progress has taken place in other fields like space science, defense technology, information technology and food management.
Humans have therefore raised unrealistic expectations out of medical science. They fail to understand that it is against the laws of nature that we are waging a battle. We don’t even know what exactly makes a human being alive. The understanding is finite. We still are not immortal and we cannot overcome death.
In an earlier era, it was accepted that this is a normal course of life. Old age, disease, and death were accepted parts of Human destiny. Gautam Buddha had realized it too and set out on his knowledge quest because of the same reason. He found his solace only once he attained enlightenment!
Hence, it is pertinent that doctors and patients understand this. Life is finite. We have progressed and to some extent succeeded in fighting some diseases and have increased the life expectancy a bit, but it is still minuscule in nature’s scheme of things.
Due to rapid progress and achievement of economic prosperity, humans have started feeling entitled to having perfect health. They think money can buy you health and life. It’s not so. They fail to understand that they are fighting nature. And they can’t win.
Doctors in their parlance talk of managing a case. Never treatment. “I treat, He Cures.” It is accepted and understood. Doctors should now make their patients aware of these things. Their unreasoned and unrealistic expectations have to be addressed even before they start ‘managing’ a case and not treating it.
Every doctor who starts managing a case by prescribing drugs or performing a surgery tries to do it to the best of his capability. Not every time it gives the desired outcome. He tries hard. He also doesn’t want to fail. But it’s beyond his capabilities.
There are a lot of other problems too in this field. Not even the developed countries have a perfect solution. We are plagued with a huge population, which does not have the resources to care for itself. The government can only chip in up to a certain level.
The problems get compounded when too many people start fighting for limited resources. The system gets overburdened. It cannot cope up with the demand. And then it starts crumbling.
The frustration comes out. The media hypes it. The kind of discourse on television these days, makes it sound politically correct to find faults and deficits in an already crumbling system. With political rhetoric and tacit support, people are emboldened to use violence against the doctors. The softest and the easiest target.
These doctors are the same people who are constantly trying to help you in your battle against disease and death. They are on your side. Trying to steer you and take you as farther as possible. Alas, they are also humans!
#Stop violence against doctors
