Save lives or your skin?

Courtesy: Zee News

Stemmed a mob in Kolkatta cracked the skull of a 
doctor when his 76-year-old patient with myocardial
ischemia and arrhythmia succumbed to his ailment. 
Incidentally, the victim is from a minority group. 
That makes it difficult for politicians to make the 
'correct' decision.

There was a time when it was noble to treat the sick and downtrodden. People who had 'failed' in life, i.e., failed to live up to the expectations beset by the society, would find solace is serving the infirm. It was considered virtuous to live amongst and care for sick. Father Damien cared for lepers, contracted leprosy and was canonised. Florence Nightingale spent sleepless nights holding vigil in her ward to minimise morbidity. Mother Teresa left the comforts of her hometown to answer her call among the poor of Calcutta.  

In public life, many non-religious individuals sacrificed time and energy to establish medical services in many newly independent countries of the East. More often than not, personnel in the medical profession do not work 9 to 5 but start early and finish late, not anticipating remuneration but the thankful nod and warm handshake from grateful patients (mind you, not clients!)

The turn of the century saw a change in lay people's expectations and outlook of the medical fraternity. They were no longer held up on a pedestal but treated as another spoke in the cogwheel of machinery that kept the civilisation going. In other words, they were looked upon as technicians to perform specific tasks. There was nothing divine in their calling. The roll call is the jingling of the cash-machine, they say, Ka-ching!!! 

With the spread of anecdotal reports of cures and treatment modalities, the perception is that immortality is real and achievable in this lifetime. With the increasing litigation risk and corresponding growing medical costs, both care providers and recipients look at each other with much scorn. The doctor views every patient as a potential liability and a possible litigant. Hence, he practices defensive medicine, taking care of all differential diagnoses are not overlooked. He must ensure that if God forbid, any unforeseen malady should strike, he must have a watertight case to keep the swarm of prancing sharks in robes at bay.

The patient views their care providers as money-faced mercenaries out to make a kill on others' miseries. They jump at the term of medical negligence at the first instance any medical intervention go south or as uncharted.

In jumps the businessmen who envisage a future in this distrust. They portray the image of a fair middleman who would promote fair trade. In reality, he is just a wolf in sheep's clothing tasked to guard the chicken coop.  His eyes are squarely on the chicken and the pearly white eggs as well. Like appointing Colonel Saunders to act as the spokesperson for the 'Society Against Cruelty to Chicken'!

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