Editor,
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 ki asliyat’, 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, 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.
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.
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.
There is a need to bring back people’s faith in doctors
Yours etc.,
Dr KK Aggarwal (Padmashri)
Via email
Of poor vegetable vendors
Editor,
Villagers selling vegetables in the city come from distant villages. They are poor farmers eking out a livelihood. Do we ever seriously consider how much they earn? Is it sufficient to maintain their families ? No! Instead we bargain hard with them even when their prices are lesser than the vegetables sold in the stalls especially in Laitumkhrah market. Do we dare bargain at the swanky malls in the city or at 5-star restaurants? No, but we all take advantage of the poor. Our mindsets are so pathetic. When will we ever change? But it is high time to change our mindsets if we wish to see all round growth in Meghalaya.
Yours etc.,
Anjan Kumar Das,
Shillong – 6
On noise pollution
Editor,
After the Allahabad High Court came down heavily on the use of loudspeakers in religious places, many without the necessary permission, it is time to apply the same ban on noise pollution here in Shillong. The problem here is not so much from religious spaces which seldom preach from the rooftops but from cars that blare loud music and with bass sound whose decibel is much beyond the permissible limit. I wonder how these cars get away with such nuisance. I would request the Transport Department and the Meghalaya Traffic Police to come down heavily on these car owners who think they own all the space under the sun and care a hoot about the peace and tranquility that residents are entitled to.
Will we see some stiff regulations in this regard since people here have the propensity to break all laws?
Yours etc.,
KN Lyngdoh,
Shillong-4