Wo is next to God ?
HOPE CLINICS
Who is Next to God?
In India today, after the British have left and our princely states have ceased to exist, if anyone is considered next to God, it is not doctors but rather our Judiciary, the IPS/IAS/IRS officers, our politicians, or even criminal gang leaders. The notion that doctors are "next to God"—often used as emotional blackmail by patients in their time of need—raises my hackles. If I were to characterize the patients most likely to turn litigious or violent, it would be those who excessively praise doctors, try to ingratiate themselves, and label them as divine figures.
What we, as medical professionals, seek is simple: fair treatment and non-discrimination.
1) Treat Us Like Other Professionals
a) If advocates have the right to violent protests, at the very least, doctors should be granted the right to peaceful protest.
b) Accountability must be a two-way street. Selective accountability cannot apply to doctors while judges remain largely unchallenged.
c) If the legal profession is deemed "sui generis" and thus excluded from the Consumer Protection Act, the same exemption should apply to the medical profession.
d) If advocates can specialize in various fields of law based on experience rather than qualifications, doctors should also have the right to practice in specialized areas based on experience rather than formal degrees. The trend of superspecialization has inflated healthcare costs, eliminated the general practitioner’s role, and unfairly labeled experienced doctors as quacks. It is impractical to expect every clinic or hospital to have a cardiologist, pediatric cardiologist, neurologist, nephrologist, gastroenterologist, and hepatologist available at all times.
e) If advocates can charge different fees for similar cases, then differential pricing should also be permitted in medicine, especially considering the significant financial risks doctors face when treating high-net-worth individuals who may demand exorbitant compensation in malpractice cases.
f) If advocates are allowed to use their residential premises for professional work without paying commercial utility rates, doctors should also not be forced to pay commercial charges for utilities and property tax.
g) If judges and advocates require a safe working environment, so do doctors.
2) Treat Us Like Any Other Citizen
a) If a citizen cannot be prosecuted multiple times in different courts for the same issue, doctors should not be subjected to multiple judicial and quasi-judicial proceedings for the same complaint.
b) If businesses can advertise their services, doctors should also be allowed to inform the public about their expertise and medical facilities.
c) Like any accused individual, doctors should have the right to legal representation, which is currently denied by several State Medical Councils.
d) Do not justify assaults on doctors by citing emotional distress over a lost relative. Just as the killers of Indira Gandhi were not excused because of their anger over Operation Bluestar, grieving individuals cannot be allowed to take the law into their own hands. If a doctor is negligent, legal proceedings can follow, but violence is never justifiable.
e) If an ordinary citizen can be treated by a doctor relative, doctors should also be allowed the same privilege. Insurance companies often deny cashless facilities or reimbursement if a doctor is treated by their own relative or in their own hospital, which is unjust.
f) Society admires and respects wealthy, successful entrepreneurs, yet a rich, successful doctor is immediately labeled as greedy and unethical. This double standard needs to change.
Conclusion
Doctors do not seek to be placed on a pedestal, nor do we want divine status. We simply ask for the same rights, protections, and privileges as other professionals and citizens. The medical field is challenging, with immense responsibilities and risks. It is only fair that doctors be treated with the respect and legal fairness they deserve.