Bhai Vs MBBS…
For the uninitiated, ‘Bhai’ translates to ‘brother’ in Hindi and is a slang for a ‘ruffian’…and Munnabhai MBBS was a movie that released in 2003, which was a hilarious take on such a ruffian(endearingly called ‘Munna’ by his homies)getting himself admitted to a med school and how he challenges the status quo and introduces the place to a more humanitarian approach to dealing with patients. It isn’t flawless but certainly makes one mull over the gaping divide between health care providers and patients. It is him against the system. (If you haven’t watched it please do. It is a masterpiece.)
Today, the contest would be between the doctors and the Bhai’s of the real world. How often have we seen our news channels report mob attacks on hospitals and health care workers. A doctor roughed up, a broken skull bone, a punch, a slap, a contused eye, a few bruises here and there. This is then followed by protests by the medical community including refusing hospital services for the next several days thus disrupting patient care until the crime is taken cognizance of.
I understand that when a patient dies, emotions run high. However, to blame a doctor for not playing God when the patient has been wheeled in at the nth hour or is critically ill, is crossing a red line. When this outburst is at an emergency service provider or an innocent resident just learning the ropes of the craft, it is beyond cruel.
When newspapers report articles about dwindling doctor-patient relations and how doctors should be spending more quality time with their patients, I do agree to a certain degree. Effective communication is often the key to diffusing a possible inflammatory situation getting out of hand. I understand there are impatient doctors who are so burdened by the enormous patient load that they find it practically impossible to spend a considerable amount of time with each patient.
On the other hand, there are equally unreasonable patients, the ones who treat the hospital like a hotel service where they demand due return for every penny spent and expect that both residents and senior doctors should wait over them. We usually know the difference between individuals with a genuine concern and those looking for some special kind of treatment. We are as polite as we can be even in such a situation considering that the patient has been admitted with an ailment(however minor)even though the same time can be spent on somebody who actually needs your attention and expertise.
Our country does not have the same doctor-patient ratio like some of the other countries , so expecting doctors to spend a major chunk of their time entertaining you for some cough and cold is sure entitlement. Irrespective of who is at fault, does that allow a person to physically assault a care giver? One could have reasons plenty, but would the same ones who defend the offenders allow their kid to work in an environment where they are threatened with their life everyday?
There are redressal forums for when things go wrong and if one feels they have an actual case, that is where it should be taken up and not resort to harassing hapless over-worked residents who are doing the best they can.
It is somehow a free pass in our country for mobs to express umbrage by vandalizing property( be it government or private). Every government machinery comes from the national or state budget which in turn comes from the tax payers, so yes, we do have the right to ask for accountability. Unless you can afford to reimburse what you have destroyed or spend a considerable amount of your youthful days in prison, politically affiliated or otherwise, one shouldn’t be allowed to get away with destroying public property and certainly not attacking the houses of elected representatives irrespective of what their concern is.
Hooliganism cannot be a method used for arm twisting the government to bowing down to ones wishes. I understand that people have the right to protest, they have the right to strike work and demand redressal. However they do not have the right to abuse or assault. Our country has come up with an Adhaar akin to a social security number. When you misbehave on a flight, you are put in the ‘No flyers list’. If you misbehave in an other country, you will either do prison time or get deported. As a doctor I am allowed to choose whom I want to treat. I would certainly want the ones badgering my colleagues to be blacklisted and the information linked to their Adhaars so much that next time they turn up for treatment, I can flatly refuse. Peaceful and effective protest you see.
Well, if you have the right to health, I have the right to Life and so do my friends. We as a community should refuse to put up with these ‘Bhai’s’. We have laws, but we need better law enforcement, lest you want to see the medical community turn into ‘Munnabhai’s’.
PS: I have never been on the receiving end of a patient’s kin’s fury. This article is written in solidarity with my colleagues.
