DOCTORS, who are considered the saviours of mankind, study hard to become MBBS and then take the Hippocratic Oath to maintain certain ethical standards in their career. Sadly, nowadays doctors do not care to conform to this oath.

Medical profession exists to provide service to patients and it is hard to provide quality service if you don’t respect a person whom you are serving. The other day I and my mother, who was having severe pain, visited a family hospital in Lahore. This is a famous private hospital. A doctor literally yelled at us for not seeking an appointment with him. We were shocked at his behavour; though technically speaking he might be right but morally, socially, ethically and professionally this is unacceptable on part of the doctor.

If this kind of rigidity is shown by doctors, then what can we expect from an illiterate individual? They need to change this attitude and show some decency, kindness and politeness towards their patients because they have chosen this profession to serve the public.

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council should keep an eye on such doctors and train future doctors to show courtesy towards their patients as they are here to serve and not for doing any business.

Engr Jawad Siddiqui

Lahore

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2016