In the context of our Indian culture we see Doctors as the incarnation of God. Well except the God there are only Doctors who can save you life with their medical expertise. I don't have any prejudice against the medical profession and I equally respect them but a thought that had been into my mind since my childhood days forced me to write this today.
The other day I was doing my regular orkuting and surfing through my friend list when I came across a name Dr. XYZ. I was a bit surprised but then I recollected from my memory that doctors do have this habit of displaying their profession everywhere. Either you see social networking websites, email addresses, cars, two-wheelers everywhere they proudly display their profession. That made me into think that why aren't other professionals so proud to display their profession. I do agree that at times of emergency it comes in handy but then what can be the reason behind the email addresses and the social networking names. There are other professions who can be equally proud to display but they don't do it, then why do Doctors do it. It may be because our society gives too much importance to the medical professionals and there is nothing wrong in that. They do an excellent job of saving lives of millions of people round the world.
If you see any profession, any business then the money you get depends on the quality of the work that you deliver. If you fail to deliver as per the buyer then you don't get the money for your work. This thing works in all the professions except doctors. When I was a child, and when I used to get fever then my parents used to take me to our family doctor. Most of the times that would work and I would recover. In case I dint recover then they used to take me to some specialist and that would help. At that time I always had the question that if the family doctor was not able to cure me, why dint he return the money back which he had charged. As I grew up, I learned that it is the tradition being followed everywhere. Even if a person is being operated for 2 lacs for an operation and if the operation fails, then also you have to pay the amount. When you see that professionalism of the quality delivery is being followed in every other industry then why only few have been left out. The little child in me still has not got the answer.....
Hey Atit, superb yaar... superb... the thing about doctor's committing a mistake (and still not liable ) is so true...
ReplyDeleteA very good blog....
Getting Dr. in front of your name, takes extensive study, more that any other profession. To answer your question why doctors dont return your fees if they cant cure you is doctors charge you for their time and knowledge they possess, comparable to any consultant or laywers, who charges you for the time they spent for your case.They do not deliver physical goods but provide services.
ReplyDelete@ Krunal
ReplyDeleteI do agree that Dr. profession does require extensive study. But nowadays any profession requires extensive study. MBBS requires 5 years just like MBA. I do understand that they charge for their time and knowledge but my point is they are not liable for the service they provide. Same is the case for lawyers and can be other professions too. In today's competitive age, each and every profession is becoming result oriented. If you dont achieve the target, you dont get paid. That is not the case for Dr. I have never heard that you dont need to pay for the operation, if the operation is not successful.
Atit.. I have a slight difference of opinion.. it is not that in every profession, if you dont deliver, you are not paid. If Indian team (cricket, hockey etc.) loses, they still get paid for playing. When we go to a restaurent, we pay for the food irrespective of the fact that you liked it or not an same is the case for a movie also. But for Doctors, there is this obligation which has been mendatory legally that they cannot deny medical services to a patient arriving in a critical situation. And you would aso agree that there is no device which can measure how much critical a patient is and how much is the chance of it for getting saved. They have to decide really instantly and they take the charge of the duty of saving the patient's life. Of course all of them are not so dedicated and many refuse to take the case in their hand if they find that the patient's chances of surviving are very slim. But for these greedy people, we should not discourage the honest practitioners who believe in serving teir patients. If we make it mendatory for them to return the fees to the patient who has not been cured by them, the case would be that doctors would NEVER EVER take cases which are critical, there would be business like competetion and soooo many cases in courts where the relatives of the patients will argue that he\she could be saved and the doctor will say it is not sure. Moreover, it will surely take the moral down for the honest practitioners as well. One more thing, imagine if somebody's keen could not be saved and if the doctor says I'l return the fees, ho would he\she feel. I think they might feel like an insult at a time when their dear as departed and someone is returning the money for the service they failed to deliver. Also if the patient could not be saved, but we always assume the the doctor gave his/her honest efforts in the operation, the nurses and the supporting staff are involved and the infrastructure of the hospital is also utilised for which they have to pay. Yaar they are also not there for complete charity na. I know you are not talking about making it mendatoy for the doctor to return the money, but this is what I feel will happen if it starts to happen. So let it be the way it is. Good point though. Happy Blogging!!!
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