I sometimes despair of the human race vis a vis Indians... Complacency sure has its place among necessary virtues, but to what extent can we stretch it? Much is mouthed and written about illiteracy being a bane to the progress of our society. But what of the "educated " uninformed???
I wish people would realize that , in our present set-up at least, we have to know, understand and claw for our rights. Not put our trust in Gods, demi-Gods, God-men and women, lawyers, engineers and least of all- Doctors! This is where my rage boils over and spills out! Being of the fraternity, I am disgusted and pained to see the megalomaniacally callous and high-handed attitudes of the super-specialist members of the medical community . A friend got admitted into hospital a couple of days back. 5 days of vague symptoms, and Wham! He gets to know he has but 15% of his kidneys in working order and will now on need dialysis thrice a week for the rest of his life! Imagine what would go through your mind is this happened to you? Does any doc even ask this vital question of himself?? No- he very definitely doesn't. Why should he? He is, after all, the chosen one of the Almighty. God on earth. So what does he do? He knocks down all the frightened patient's questions with a harsh "Pehle sochna tha.. ab bahut late ho gaya in sab sawaalon ke liye."
Without having the test reports in his hands, he can judge, condemn, hang and quarter a frightened person, who until yesterday was a "normal" man-about-town??
This friend, incidentally a retired army officer, cannot now have anything sweet nor salty to eat. The dietitian gave lots of unwanted advice, prepared diet charts @Rs.1000/- per advice session. Then, the hospital served regular oily, salty meals ..same for patients of all kinds as well as for their relatives. When his wife brought home-made saltless food , they were scolded and insulted and ordered that "according to the rules", he will have to eat the canteen food.Why lose out on revenue??Who makes these rules?Total disregard for the patients condition seems to be the new mantra for doctors. And the disturbed, frightened, confused family can hardly bring themselves to ask logical questions, and demand logical answers.
Another person, a cousin .. an up-and-coming hotelier with his own set-up, married with kids in school..just went for a routine check-up a couple of weeks back to a premium hi-fi super-speciality hospital in Gurgaon. Was diagnosed with second-stage cancer of the stomach. Got operated, and while undergoing a course of toxic chemotherapy, went into convulsions. So what did the super-specialist at the super- speciality hospital do? Instructed the petrified relatives to deposit 3 lacs in the middle of the night, and sent him off for ANGIOGRAPHY????? Why?? Wasn't the diagnosis clear? If at all they suspected a heart attack, easier, safer, quicker tests would have sufficed. But then maybe they would not have earned as much revenue.
Why do the educated, upright, intelligent citizens of this land lose all their powers of reasoning and become innocent dewy-eyed lambs for slaughter?? When will people learn? Stand up for their rights? Who will teach them to trust in themselves, and not blindly in others?
Bound, gagged and shackled - We-The people of India. Awaiting a reincarnated God to come and show us the way.
How many battles does one need to fight? To survive..live and die with dignity?
I wish people would realize that , in our present set-up at least, we have to know, understand and claw for our rights. Not put our trust in Gods, demi-Gods, God-men and women, lawyers, engineers and least of all- Doctors! This is where my rage boils over and spills out! Being of the fraternity, I am disgusted and pained to see the megalomaniacally callous and high-handed attitudes of the super-specialist members of the medical community . A friend got admitted into hospital a couple of days back. 5 days of vague symptoms, and Wham! He gets to know he has but 15% of his kidneys in working order and will now on need dialysis thrice a week for the rest of his life! Imagine what would go through your mind is this happened to you? Does any doc even ask this vital question of himself?? No- he very definitely doesn't. Why should he? He is, after all, the chosen one of the Almighty. God on earth. So what does he do? He knocks down all the frightened patient's questions with a harsh "Pehle sochna tha.. ab bahut late ho gaya in sab sawaalon ke liye."
Without having the test reports in his hands, he can judge, condemn, hang and quarter a frightened person, who until yesterday was a "normal" man-about-town??
This friend, incidentally a retired army officer, cannot now have anything sweet nor salty to eat. The dietitian gave lots of unwanted advice, prepared diet charts @Rs.1000/- per advice session. Then, the hospital served regular oily, salty meals ..same for patients of all kinds as well as for their relatives. When his wife brought home-made saltless food , they were scolded and insulted and ordered that "according to the rules", he will have to eat the canteen food.Why lose out on revenue??Who makes these rules?Total disregard for the patients condition seems to be the new mantra for doctors. And the disturbed, frightened, confused family can hardly bring themselves to ask logical questions, and demand logical answers.
Another person, a cousin .. an up-and-coming hotelier with his own set-up, married with kids in school..just went for a routine check-up a couple of weeks back to a premium hi-fi super-speciality hospital in Gurgaon. Was diagnosed with second-stage cancer of the stomach. Got operated, and while undergoing a course of toxic chemotherapy, went into convulsions. So what did the super-specialist at the super- speciality hospital do? Instructed the petrified relatives to deposit 3 lacs in the middle of the night, and sent him off for ANGIOGRAPHY????? Why?? Wasn't the diagnosis clear? If at all they suspected a heart attack, easier, safer, quicker tests would have sufficed. But then maybe they would not have earned as much revenue.
Why do the educated, upright, intelligent citizens of this land lose all their powers of reasoning and become innocent dewy-eyed lambs for slaughter?? When will people learn? Stand up for their rights? Who will teach them to trust in themselves, and not blindly in others?
Bound, gagged and shackled - We-The people of India. Awaiting a reincarnated God to come and show us the way.
How many battles does one need to fight? To survive..live and die with dignity?
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