Two cents from the side of the medical community. I request all of you not to attack me and go through my whole post first.
I have not seen this episode. In fact, I have seen only the first episode of Satyamev Jayate and that too only half. My busy schedule does not allow me these days- I am a medical intern in the biggest government hospital in Mumbai. Therefore, as of now, I do not have any clear opinion on the matter about whom I actually support, since I have not seen the show, and I do not take sides just for the sake of taking sides.
I have, however, seen the outlash against Aamir and read the comments of doctors. And I wish to showcase the POV of the doctors who are opposing Aamir. They are NOT angry bcos the malpractices were shown and a different side of doctors was showcased, rather from what I have read on FB, most of them are actually disgusted with the malpractices shown. What they are angry about is this:
1.) Somewhere, they felt that the whole medical fraternity was targeted. They felt that the episode aimed to show that leave for a few exceptions, most of the doctors are out there to just fleece money. For doctors working in government hospitals (like me) who stay in extremely small, unhygienic government quarters, work round the clock and get minimal pay (less than one third of what an engineer would get) when they go out of their way to sanction bills of beggars and slumdwellers and attend to them with the same concern that they would attend to a rich patient, it becomes extremely hurtful to see that they are being acknowledged in this way and painted as villains.
Their point here is that corruption is in every profession and that is accepted, yet to blame the whole profession as black cos of some devils is not right.
2.) There were some dialogeus in the show which implied that a doctor is meant to do social service and not earn, and only one who does social service is a true doctor. Many of them found it a very judgemental way of thinking, especially when many people do not know the intricacies of the medical profession. On the meagre salary we get in government hospitals (I am paid Rs. 2490 right now which is not even sufficient to pay my monthly expenses in a city like Mumbai) , it is really NOT possible for many doctors to do social service to their patients. Doctors are humans and they too have to run their homes. Of course we do all we can but only to a certain extent, after that it is really not possible. However, all of them agree that 'the doctor is poor' is no explanation for malpractices- one cannot go about cheating patients just bcos he has studied in a private medical college and needs to reclaim all that he spent on it. This excuse is plain BS and THE WHOLE MEDICAL FRATERNITY accepts that. It's just the constant expectation from them to do social service and be god-like irks them, bcos the government actually provides very little facilities to enable them to work in villages or do social service.
Truth is that we all enter the profession to serve mankind without any reservations, but only when we enter it do we realise that it is very difficult to do so. God has power, god has strength, we have no power, no strength and are still expected to play God. :( We do what we can though- we see close to a thousand patients at the OPD everyday, we admit as many patient as the hospital capacity allows, and we try our best to get their treatment done properly. Many of the patients here cannot afford MRI's (even at the subsidised rates) and some tests which are not done in the hospital but have to be done from outside. In such cases, many doctors refer only those private labs which agree to the clause that they will do tests of poor patients for free. I myself have run pillar to post getting free tests sanctioned for poor patients.
3.) Whenever a show on medical malpractices has to be made, it has to be done very sensitively. The reason- people lose trust on ALL doctors. This is one relationship that relies A LOT on trust, without the patient's trust, the doctor is powerless. Recently, I told a patient that we had to get some tests done before the surgery and she was in a lot of doubt about why the tests were required. No amount of convincing could make her see sense. Probably she thought we were in league with the private lab (one of the tests could not be done in our hospital). In the end, I had to request my senior to convince her. This was a very simple example that happened with me, I can give other examples too, but all of will probably fall asleep. 😆
This is the POV of those doctors who felt that the show indirectly ended up showing the whole of the medical profession as terror. Their anger is NOT bcos malpractices were shown, they themselves condemn the malpractices. I feel sick to my stomach too about whatever I have heard till now. Their anger is actually against some other aspects which indirectly came up in the episode.
However, there is also a section of doctors I know of, who felt that the episode did not target the whole of the medical community but only bad doctors. They appreciated the show and hailed Amir Khan wholeheartedly.
So you see, none of the groups actually hated the malpractices thingy being shown. It is actually good that Amir Khan actually brought up this issue- patients should feel free to question when and why a test is to be done- I myself always explain to them. Communication helps solve issues. :)
It's just that few of them felt that the episode painted ALL of them in negative light, and few felt it did not do that. The reactions are based on that only. It is a matter of perception actually, different friends of mine have perceived the episode differently. I of course, have no opinions at present since I have not seen the episode.
Requesting you again not to bash me. I do believe Satyamev Jayate is a well made show, the first episode that I had seen was pretty impressive- brought tears to my eyes. :(
Ganpati Bappa please protect me. *prays*
CID
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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