Tuesday, July 10, 2007

DOCTORS DONT KEEP UP TIME


YESTERDAY I WAS CALLED FOR A SMALL DINNER AT MY INLAW'S RELATIVES PLACE. I WAS TOLD TO COME AT 8 PM TO THEIR HOUSE ALONG WITH MY WIFE.BUT THANKS TO MY HOSPITAL DUTY AND TRAFFIC IN CHENNAI I REACHED THERE ONLY BY 9:30 PM.
THERE IS A BASIC SAYING THAT DOCTORS LACK ORIENTATION TO TIME. GONE ARE THE DAYS WHEN IT WAS EXCUSABLE FOR A DOCTOR WHEN HE OR SHE DOESNT COME IN TIME BECAUSE OF HIS/ HER PROFESSIONAL CONSTRAINTS. NOWADAYS IT REFLECTS BADLY ON A DOCTOR WHO DOESNT KEEP UP TIME FOR HIS ACADEMIC MEETING OR CONSULTATION WITH HIS PATIENTS. YESTERDAY MY FATHER WHO IS ALSO A DOCTOR COULDN COME IN TIME FOR HIS CONSULTATION AND I FOUND PEOPLE ASKING AND SCREAMING AT MY LAB TECHNITIAN FOR MY FATHERS WHEREABOUTS. I REMEMBER THE GOOD OLD DAYS WHEN MY FATHER USED TO TRAVEL ALL THE WAY FROM T NAGAR BY TRAIN TO PALLAVARAM AND HIS PATIENTS USED TO WAIT TOO PATIENTLY TO SEE HIM. NOW THERE IS A SEA OF CHANGE , IF ONE DOCTOR DOESNT TURN UP IN TIME PATIENT GOES TO THE OTHER DOCTOR WHO IS PRACTISING JUST ACROSS THE STREET.
BUT PEOPLE MUST CONSIDER DOCTORS ARE TOO HUMANS AND WHEN AN EMERGENCY PATIENT COME IN HIS CONSULTATION IN SOME OTHER HOSPITAL WHICH REQUIRES HIS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION HE/ SHE CANNOT JUST SHRUG IT OFF SAYING ILL BE LATE FOR MY CLINIC. I USED TO SCREAM AT MY FATHER WHEN I WAS A CHILD WHEN HE PROMISES TO TAKE ME OUT AND TURNS UP LATE CITING "TOO MANY PATIENTS IN OP" AS REASON. I ONLY REALISE NOW THAT DOCTORS CANNOT COME IN TIME JUST BECAUSE HE/SHE IS A DOCTOR.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Aswin why are you worried when the patient goes to other doctor. The patient is getting timely treatment which is what matters. So don't worry, I will do the same, I change the doctor if there is a long time. I will only wait for a long time if there is a special need. So I will advise my patient to see the other doctor if there is an emergency or time constrain to the patient. The patietn is always welcome to see me the next visit.