Trust & Respect Form The Backbone of Doctor Patient Relationship

A Doctor is a healer. He / she sacrifices the best years of youth of his life studying in a Medical College to learn the art and science of healing. I personally spent 14 years of my life from 6th of August 1997 (admission into MBBS) to 31st of July 2011 (Finishing my MCh Neurosurgery), passing every examination in my first attempt. Despite being the only child of my parents, I spent all these years of my life in solitude studying medicine. Definitely and decidedly no remuneration can pay me back for the years of my life I sacrificed for this nobel profession. Sadly the times have changed and the nature of Doctor Patient relationship has also changed drastically. Everything today is weighed in terms of monetary exchange and it is believed that money can buy everything. Unfortunately this is far from reality. As a Doctor I come across numerous terminally ill patients from all socioeconomic backgrounds and sadly the entire wealth present upon Earth and entire knowledge of science on this planet cannot buy a single breath for the dying person. The success of Doctor as a healer depends upon a healthy Doctor - Patient relationship based upon mutual trust and respect which no amount of money can buy and no number of 5 star Google reviews can generate. People give reviews to temples as well as prisons. Although we have to live in the same society of present times but I as an old fashioned Doctor feel uncomfortable with the way a Doctor - Patient relationship is seen both by Doctors, Hospitals and Patients alike. Clealy there is something amiss somewhere.