I’VE always believed that death should involve no suffering. But then, I guess everyone wants it that way as nobody wants to die in pain. I recently went through a minor health problem and realized the plight of the health sector in Pakistan. I work for a pharmaceutical firm and therefore I am quite aware of the effects and side-effects of medication. However, what I have realized during the 10 days of not being well is that in our country, doctors are the most selfish of souls.
I didn’t know what was wrong with me and assuming it to be a minor illness, went to my usual family physician. A sweet and gentle individual, he gave me the best advice possible. But fearing the worst, I decided to consult a specialist. Working in the health sector, it was easy for me to find the best possible specialist. I used company protocol to get an early appointment and avoid long waiting lines.
The specialist took one look at me and said: “No big deal, it will settle down. You take this medication and come to see me after three weeks.”
Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? Not really. Lo and behold, I was taken to the emergency room that very night after the specialist had passed judgment that “nothing was wrong.” Anyway, it’s always good to check out the hospital once in a while and go through pain. It makes you value the meaning of life and acknowledge the Supreme authority.
I made it a point to call up the specialist later and ask him exactly what he had done to me. He replied, “Bibi, do injection kha chuki ho do aur kha lo, main tumharay liye aur kuch nahin kar sakta!” before hanging up.
It seems the key to being a successful doctor in Pakistan is simple: don’t care, don’t think and don’t give a damn about anybody. Is this the right attitude?
Every person comes alone in this world, lives and dies alone. There might be loved ones who care about you as well as colleagues, but in the end it all boils down to one fact: if you don’t worry about yourself, no one is going to worry about you, for you. There are no shortcuts in life, not even through life.
Doctors can be real morons, like other professionals, but then others do not play with people’s lives through lack of interest. There might be exceptions of course, but overall after my personal experience, I think doctors are generally miserable souls who should think of the oath they take when opting for such an honourable profession. Lessons in personal communication are also a must for them. I might sound bitter, but only a victim knows what he has been through. No one has the right to play with another person’s physical and emotional state.
Doctors are entrusted with the faith of their patients that they will make them well again. But if they do not use their knowledge for the benefit of the people, then it is not doing justice to the profession. The popular practice these days is to see the maximum number of patients by providing the minimum amount of consultation. This would make anyone angry, not just me.
I conclude with an obituary for the doctor and others like him, both as a heath-care professional and a person: Your heart became a little more black the day you realized that if your patient didn’t do well, it would just be one less patient to check. The event was attended by your sense of shame, which grows more languid with each passing day.
I’VE always believed that death should involve no suffering. But then, I guess everyone wants it that way as nobody wants to die in pain. I recently went through a minor health problem and realized the plight of the health sector in Pakistan. I work for a pharmaceutical firm and therefore I am quite aware of the effects and side-effects of medication. However, what I have realized during the 10 days of not being well is that in our country, doctors are the most selfish of souls.
