2014 - the year of the Aam Patient

The medical profession's reputation has taken a beating today. Here are the reasons why the Doctor-Patient relationship has begun to sour..

Now that the new year has started, there's a lot of optimism in the air . Some of this because of the results of the Delhi elections ,which helped the Aam Aadmi Party to come to power. While no one knows how long they will last or how much they will be able to accomplish, they still present a breath of fresh air. They are young and idealistic and whether they will be able to live up to their promises or not , at least they offer hope because they are a marked contrast from the traditional politician, who is viewed as being corrupt and crooked.

In the past, when India had just won its independence, politicians were held in high regards. It was typically freedom fighters who assumed positions of power , not for personal enrichment, but to serve the people. They behaved as true leaders, who had a mission and vision. Their integrity was proven; and their actions were open and transparent, because they felt they were accountable and answerable to their countrymen. Today, most people think of politicians as being unprincipled unethical scamsters who abuse their power, in order to get rich quickly, no matter which party they belong to at that moment of time. Sadly, the medical profession's reputation has also taken a beating today. Just like people don't trust politicians , they don't trust the medical profession either. It's partly because our so-called leaders have looted the country, that the general feeling of cynicism and skepticism with which we view them has jaundiced our perception of doctors as well. (Read: Medical negligence case: Do we know our rights and responsibilities as a patient?)

Even though most patients still have high regards for their personal doctor, most have started thinking of doctors as being a bunch of crooks. The reason patients treat doctors with suspicion is because they feel that doctors are out to make a quick buck at their expense. The fact that doctors take cuts and kickbacks ( just like politicians do) is now common knowledge. Even though it seems the medical profession has gone to the dogs, the good news is that we still have time to be able to treat this illness! (Read: Majority feel medical profession is commercialised: Survey)

What do patients expect from their doctor ? Competence, transparency, accessibility, availability, affordability and respect. I think the key to this is openness. If doctors are prepared to share information with patients - not just their medical knowledge, but their fee structure for example, right up-front, this will inspire confidence and trust in patients. (Read: India needs to strengthen doctor-patient communication)

Doctors are fortunate in that they have so many opportunities to do so much good! Patients come to them looking for succor in their time of need. If doctors can provide this, by putting patients first, they will able to command respect from their patients. The financial rewards will flow in due course.

Unfortunately, doctors, like politicians, have failed patients . However, the success of the Aam Aadmi Party means that there's no need to give up. One person can make a difference - and if an individual can fix a corrupt political system, it's much easier for us to heal the healthcare system as well! (Read: Medical negligence How to file a complaint)

The secret is to take the public into confidence , by empowering them with information . We are all going to fall ill some day - and if we start moving in this direction, we can look forward to a much healthier breed of medical professionals in the future!

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