A Doctor's Sacred Obligation
© Dr. Rajas Deshpande
As I entered the hospital for my evening OPD, I saw our senior-most cardiologist standing by his plush big car in front of the entrance. A tall, calm and brilliant man with a reputation that many only dream of, he never spoke about himself or his work. It was very unusual, because he was either with patients or walking fast, never still like this.
Curiously, as I wished him, I couldn’t resist asking, “Anything up, Sir?”. He asked me to look at the entrance. A young lady in her twenties was coming out of the hospital, supported by her relatives, smiling and crying at the same time. As she climbed into the car that was waiting for her, she saw the cardiologist and tried to get out again. But Sir asked her to wait, went there, wished her just as her relatives touched his feet one by one, and bid her a goodbye. As they shifted her luggage in the trunk, Sir told me: “That is our 10th heart transplant case. She had come with heart failure that could not be treated, there was no hope for her survival except if she received a new heart. That was a month ago. We performed a heart transplant upon her, with consent for a risk of death on the operating table. I can’t tell you how I feel today, seeing her walk out with a new heart. I am not sure how many people have the ability to grasp this event. It is so much more than a new birth!” © Dr. Rajas Deshpande
The patient’s car rolled away slowly, the relatives folded their hands at the sky. Our dear cardiologist looked at the sky once too, sat in his enviable car and drove away with a winner’s smile.
Late that night after OPD, as I waited at the entrance watching the beautiful rain, I felt a certain calm within. Hundreds of specialist and super specialist doctors in India perform super-complicated procedures, surgeries, transplants every day in India. Some bring back most hopeless patients in coma with their sheer medical talent. Thousands of ultra-critical patients walk out of the intensive/ critical care units. Heart, Liver, Kidney transplants are happening every day, almost in all bigger cities. Joint replacements and spinal surgeries have made miraculous changes in the quality of life of millions those who would have otherwise spent last few decades of their life writhing in a bed. Most Neurological conditions can now be effectively treated to improve both lifespan and quality of life. Complicated brain tumors can be removed, aneurysms treated, many cancers cured, and paralysis reversed if treated in time. Physiotherapy makes dramatic changes in mobility of those who couldn’t even stand.
Where is all this happening? Who is doing this? What is their reward?
Most of these expertises, skills were brought to India by the private doctors who went abroad to study on their own. Most of these facilities were made possible in India by the private hospitals because they earned profits. If they didn’t, no one would invest. It is impossible for the government to invest in healthcare to this extent. Even in the rare govt. set-ups where such facilities are available, they came in too late, with many compromises, and only because some doctors there wanted to extend the benefits to the poorest of the poor, and tried hard to convince the health departments for development of such facilities. The government never spends on advanced (out of the country) education of any doctor. © Dr. Rajas Deshpande. Yet, most people imagine that when a doctor goes abroad for any conference, it is to have fun. How cheap and conceited to look down upon the saviors of so many lives!
Our politicians and leaders, media and society have always made ungrateful and derogatory comments about us. Still, the ultimate truth shines bright: that the geniuses in this profession continue to bring highest class of medical care to India, both in private and government hospitals. They do so because of their own drive: to explore, to excel and to bestow health upon millions. © Dr. Rajas Deshpande. Yes, some such doctors earn very well too, most of them earn via clean practice, pay their taxes, and still treat many patients free.
However our society has almost made up its mind that a doctor should never become rich.
The utopian, hypocritical notion that doctors should only be happy with the satisfaction and blessings of people they treat, without expecting financial remuneration is as laughable as saying that everyone else right from the politicians to artists or the laborers should also be happy with what they do and should not expect any remuneration. Everyone earns for their work, and so should a doctor. © Dr. Rajas Deshpande
No one will achieve anything good by merely criticizing the very profession that strives hard to save lives. The psychotic addiction some people have, of speaking ill about doctors is based upon a single reality: they want free / low cost treatment of highest quality. There indeed are a few corrupt doctors, but how fair is it to blame all others who do so much for the society?
Our society indeed needs a new, repaired and loving heart for the great doctors who bring it health and life! This 'transplant' is being delayed by the puny shortsighted politicos and media who belittle their own saviors. It is high time that at least the educated and intelligent among the society recognize this.
Till then, we will still try and keep your old heart beating well, for we are doctors, and even if you criticise us, we must only do good to you. That sacred obligation is the nobility of my profession!
© Dr. Rajas Deshpande
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