These aspersions are hurtful to doctors, so I would like to delve into the human side of the medical profession....
COVER STORY
“Doctors are nothing but money-making machines,” “If expensive tests are required to confirm a diagnosis, what is the need for doctors?” and “Doctors are only good at rote-learning; they aren’t intellectual people” are just a few misconceptions rampant in our society regarding the medical profession and professionals. Unfortunately, society remains generally indifferent to the role of doctors and the fact that the medical profession is one of the toughest and most challenging of all professions.
These aspersions are hurtful to doctors, so I would like to delve into the human side of the medical profession. By explaining the perseverance of doctors amidst a plethora of challenges, we might, hopefully, be able to change the negative perceptions among the masses regarding doctors, hospitals, and the healthcare system.
Firstly, entering the medical profession is like walking on a bed of thorns. One needs to be an exceptional performer throughout school and college, hold their nerves during the daunting MDCAT, and then rely on good luck to gain admission to medical college, where competition is fierce. The studies take a significant toll on one’s health. Frequent exams, practicals, vivas, and competitive exams like FCPS and STEP mean that medical students have to sacrifice their recreational activities. Books are their only life-long companions; exams are a routine part of their lives.
Secondly, imagine watching the moon of Shawwal with your families in your cozy homes. Have you ever wondered where the doctors are? They are in the hospital, completing night shifts and attending to sick and injured patients. Your Eid is with your family; doctors spend theirs in the hospital. Don’t they have families too? In every country, there are public holidays, but not in hospitals. Doctors sacrifice a significant portion of their family lives and leisure time for their demanding profession.
Thirdly, there is no margin for error for doctors since even minor negligence can be irreversible and become a matter of life and death for patients. Consequently, doctors must remain mentally alert at all times. When they do make a human error, they are often scolded by their seniors, degrading their self-respect. Unfortunately, along with other challenges, young doctors face the brunt of this culture.
Perhaps the most significant challenges are the emotional constraints doctors face throughout their careers. Allah says in the Qur’an: “Every soul must taste death…” Why, then, are doctors blamed if a patient dies? Sometimes, doctors are harassed and beaten by the relatives of an influential person who passes away. This happened recently in Lahore’s Children Hospital, where a doctor was beaten so severely he had to be admitted to the ICU.
Female doctors also work odd hours as part of their duties. It is common for a nurse or a doctor to attend to a patient of the opposite gender. Unfortunately, female doctors often face harassment from those they provide healthcare to, with little protection against such incidents. Our society has let them down.
One more aspect concerns the female doctors: in our societal setup, females are responsible for household chores and upbringing children with no little or no help from their in-laws and spouses. However, the demanding and time-consuming job routine, calls, and rotations make it nearly impossible for them to manage both professional and domestic duties simultaneously. Consequently, many female doctors in Pakistan quit practicing after six years of hard work (five years of med school and one year of house job) to focus on their homes and children. Those who continue to practice often rely on domestic help to manage their household affairs.
Doctors must also listen to all types of remarks from patients and their relatives with patience and tolerance. However, they are human beings, too, and they also have emotions. Spending days and nights with blood all around and cries of patients in pain is mentally distressing for them, too, but they do it selflessly. Imagine taking good care of their patients diligently for days and nights, only for them to say, “You kept us admitted in the ward uselessly” or “You didn’t take good care of us.” It hurts rather badly.
The weather in Pakistan is hot and humid for at least five months of the year. Doctors working in private hospitals and clinics don’t face much issue with the weather, but those in government hospitals endure harsh conditions.
During a recent visit to a government hospital in Rawalpindi, I noticed the outpatient department (OPD), though renovated and air-conditioned, was still suffocating due to the tremendous patient load. Many doctors were wiping sweat from their foreheads, a common sight in the sweltering summers at government hospitals. Imagine leaving for work in the morning in clean clothes, only to return in the evening disheveled. The situation would definitely become worse in the months of July and August, but this is the daily reality for most doctors.
Lastly, doctors are sometimes equated to car mechanics. I have often heard people comment that doctors and car mechanics are the same because both fix problems. However, mechanics never manipulate a car while its engine is running, whereas doctors operate on living, breathing patients. The same holds true for comparisons with other professions.
Nevertheless, the present state of affairs is not entirely gloomy. Doctors are still labeled as the “cream of the nation,” and the title “Doctor sahib” commands respect. That is why many people proudly add “Doctor” to their names. Patients come to hospitals, trusting that doctors are their only hope for alleviating their suffering. The feelings doctors experience when they successfully lessen patients’ pain and rectify abnormalities are indescribable; no monetary gain can be as satisfying. Many patients appreciate doctors’ efforts, offering tokens of gratitude such as sweets, fruits, and the best token of all: prayers. A weak, old lady might pat a doctor on the shoulder and say, “Hamesha khush raho, beta” (Always stay happy, my child). Doctors get plenty of that!
It also feels immensely rewarding when you hear children tell their parents, “Mein nay barhay ho kar in jesa doctor bun’na hai” (I want to be a doctor like them when I grow up). Sometimes patients tell doctors how much they are “indebted” to them for “giving them a new life,” and that is something so wonderful that words cannot express the feeling of happiness it gives a doctor. So, yes, there is a silver lining as well. All we need is a bit more of such recognition.
In the end, I would like to stress that it is high time that we, as a nation, recognize and appreciate the services of doctors towards our well-being. During COVID-19, while the entire country was in lockdown, doctors were treating ill patients, and many lost their lives in service to humanity. We need to understand that on the other side of the stethoscope is a human being with friends, family, and emotions. This person can get tired because he is a human being, not a diagnostic tool. One should not expect a doctor to be cheerful and tireless after 30 hours of continuous, sleepless duty! Let us endeavor to make doctors realize they have worth and a respectable standing in our society.
