Being a Doctor

In India an adolescent around 16 -17 is made, practically forced, to make a decision about his/her entire life which can not be changed even if he/she feels afterwards that it doesn't suit him/her, that's the way our system is! Does someone at 16/17 have that much maturity to think for life that in most modest terms is complex?  I asked many of my colleagues, why did they opt for this profession and the answers were more varied than the rainbow. I myself, why talk about the others, went for Medicine because I could not decide and certain options were just not available. Of course, there are few who are more mature for their age, but they are really few and are gifted ones!

After spending 45 years in the field I can, bit proudly say that I did justice, in my own, whatever, way to the profession, but it took me several years to understand really what I was into. But if .. big if, I am given a chance to change would I? Yes. Big yes. In today's scenario having the same IQ, or whatever yardsticks you use to measure the intelligence, if one opts for Medicine at 17 and other goes for any other course, say IT, Engineering, CA, Medicine fellow slogs so much till his 30s, that by that time others could easily become millionaire, that's the first.

The hardships one has to face for getting into the course at every level are phenomenally tough whether at an Undergraduate or Postgraduate or Super speciality level. And they don't end even after you clear out with flying colours. Sons of big daddies who have spent crores on getting their lads into Medicine, have it so easy that right from the degree to post-graduation to ready-made hospital, everything is laid on the red carpet, they just have to step on! Those from the categories more or less opt for the government jobs which come to them as if served on the silver platters. But someone like me coming from the middle class with pure merit as his only asset has to toil so much, that the entire ordeal becomes, that's it, the ordeal! So Class discrimination is the next! But does the patient know, whether he is being treated by the really meritorious deserving one or by someone who is there only because of his caste or his daddy's big money!

I envy my friends from other professions for one more reason. Those at my level of field experience [ and age of course ] have to deal with somebody with equal IQ, expertise and experience.  

Me? Even at this age and with the vast experience I have to deal with, from an illiterate grandmother in her late fifties to freshly passed out IITian oozing out with internet knowledge with equal elan, to tell you the truth simply, it's difficult. Damn difficult to attain a different level of sainthood [ practically] for two differently-abled patients.

I may accept to a certain extent that the whole institute of 'Family Doctor' is definitely eroding fast but the doctors are not entirely responsible for it. In India, two professions are not entitled to make money. Poor teachers and Doctors. Theirs are professions, rest are businessmen. So if Bania on the corner loots everybody in the broad daylight that's allowed but it's like, 'Doctor always catches you in the corner' because we don't make a budget for the sickness!

Being a doctor has so many connotations, but the worst is ' Nobody treats [ ! ] the Doctor as a human being. Either he's a God or a Satan, never a simple human being like every other person or professional. If he makes you well in the least amount of money, in shortest possible time he is a GOD but if he does not then the hell breaks loose on him, he is no less than the Satan! At this juncture everybody conveniently forgets that ' The pt was your old mother in her 90s', 'The disease was chronic and does not have remedy', 'We are in India with African facilities and American knowledge.' and here it sucks, really sucks. Even after practising for more than 40 years I still dread that one bad case and I am doomed. That's being a Doctor!