Saturday, August 23, 2014

'Doctored : The Disillusionment of an American Physician'.

Indian American cardiologist, Dr Sandeep Jauhar's book by this name is currently making waves in the United States because it exposes all the wrongdoings of the American medical profession.

From what's said in it, there's nothing new in the revelations as there's always a feeling that going to a hospital and getting medical attention has its own pitfalls. Consider the following:-

      (a) You report to a doctor for an ailment that's been nagging you.
      (b) The doctor, seizing the operative(?) word from your narration puts you through a battery of tests
            and after perusing the results, refers to a specialist or even a super specialist. The cycle continues
            with tests, results, perusals and referrals.
      (c) Medicines are prescribed and their consumption/usage over a period of time makes you doctor-
           dependent for life with side effects like high blood pressure or prohibitive sugar levels in your
           blood that are sure to lead you to organ failures in due course.

It was surmised that like in every profession there would be a sprinkling of unscrupulous guys in the field of medicine too. But their magnitude, by the sheer numbers, seems to have bewildered the outsider. The biggest casualty has been the doctor's feelings for his fellow beings as money making, at all costs, have become the 'sine qua non' of the medical profession. And what frightens one is that the greed trends are sort of irreversible - no one from the system dares to rebel because it can have an adverse impact on his/her career or even the ultimate threat of annihilation!

What, then, is the way out? Reverting to the not so ancient practice, in our country, of going to an 'Apothecary' or a legal medical practitioner? At least, knowing the limitations, he/she would not push the patients to risks! Or is that, too, a fond hope?

To be off medicines, to the extent feasible, by leading a healthy life style is the best bet!


Tailpiece.

Am reminded of a similar doctor, in the not so distant past, who'd informed the world about the fallibility of the medical profession. Ivan Ilyich through his book, 'Nemesis' for which he was stripped off his medical degree together with the right to practice!

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