Healthy Soch
There is a need to bring back people’s faith in doctors
New Delhi, 10 January 2018: Recently, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) sent a defamation notice to a Delhi-based motivational speaker for calling doctors ‘murderers in white coats’ in a video on his YouTube channel. Titled ‘Indian medical system kiasliyat’, the video is an attempt by Vivek Bindra to showcase good and bad medical business tactics. The IMA is claiming Rs 50 crore in damages.
In the 9.40-minute video, Mr. Bindra, says some doctors don’t know how to earn ethically and that they try to extract money from everyone — ambulances, chemists, pharmaceutical firms, and pathologists. He also cites examples of how Caesarean section operations have increased in the past few years.
Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Immediate Past National President Indian Medical Association (IMA), said “What Mr Bindra has indulged in is something that I would term as violent communication. This is because such kind of communication is based on judgement. There is a need to verify facts and also understand the other side of things; that is, the perspective of doctors. While it is true that doctors work under pressure and are facing burnout, what is also true is that the doctor to patient ratio in India is skewed. Every doctor must attend to several patients at the same time. Doctors are no healing angels and to call them murderers is nothing short of verbal abuse and neglect of their stand. It is imperative that this video is taken down. Mr Bindra should render an apology for having portrayed this noble profession in an insensitive manner.”
While he does not name doctors, Mr Bindra gives the examples of cardiac surgeon Dr Devi Prasad Shetty of Narayana Health, Dr G Venkataswamy of Aravind Eyecare and Tata Memorial Hospital in Parel. He says these doctors and organizations have made money ethically by innovating healthcare.
Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, said, “The doctor-patient relationship is already in troubled waters in the country. Doctors are facing violence at the hands of patients. The integrity and nobility of this profession is at stake. There are various other bodies for redressal of any such complaints. However, speaking about this in such a public media is another blow to the profession.”
The following tips can help doctors address burnout issues. This will also be a topic of discussion at the 25th Perfect Health Mela, organized by HCFI, this year. This year marks the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the event.
Here are some tips for doctors to avoid a possible burnout.
- Practice smart work scheduling
- Start a hobby which will help you distract yourself from the regular workload
- Make time for relaxing techniques such as yoga and meditation, as these will prove to be stress busters.
- Make time for family and friends
- Delegate tasks and try to manage your time effectively.
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