On National Doctors Day, a number of medical professionals discussed their experiences, which ranged from seeing a patient recover to dealing with physician violence.
On National Doctors Day in 2024, doctors will be honored for their unselfish service, steadfast dedication, and fortitude in providing a secure environment for us to confide in when we are feeling anxious, afraid, or ill. The general public’s greatest faith in medical professionals is that they are able to cure anything. However, how is it to be across from me at the desk? HT Lifestyle talked to medical professionals across a range of specialties to learn about their experiences, triumphs, treasured memories, anxieties, and devastating setbacks.
Orthopaedic surgeon, sports medicine specialist, and content creator Dr. Manan Vora expressed his satisfaction in his line of work by saying, “Being a doctor is incredibly fulfilling.” The gratification of being able to treat and ease someone’s suffering is something that not many jobs can provide. Having a direct influence on someone’s life and witnessing the improvements you’ve made is incredibly fulfilling. It’s difficult not to grin at the end of the day when you realize you’ve had a genuine impact.
Dr. Oishika Chakraborty, MBBS, MD, OBGYN, brought attention to the rise in violence against physicians that has been observed recently. She went on to discuss the mentally taxing and physically taxing nature of the work. It can also be psychologically taxing for doctors to take a vacation and distance themselves from their work and patients. “It is crucial that people recognize that, even with our profound education and experience, doctors are still people,” Dr. Manan Vora stated. “Giving care to patients who are near death, giving unfavorable diagnoses, and helping bereaved families are incredibly painful situations. An emotional fortitude that can be intimidating and taxing is necessary due to this ongoing exposure to human misery, said Pankaj Sugaonkar, an interventional pediatric cardiologist at Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune.
Handling the emotional upheaval of the parents who brought in their sick child can be quite upsetting for a pediatrician. Certain circumstances, such as cancer, uncommon illnesses, and incurable ailments, need us to give the devastating news to parents—that there are no treatments. It hurts so much to see kids suffer, to see a once-playful child pass away from disease, and to see the deep anguish in parents’ eyes as their child dies. As we struggle to deal with the emotional toll of these catastrophes, these encounters frequently leave us with restless nights,” said Dr. Imran Patel, MBBS, MD (Paediatrics), Director, Asian Children Hospital, Ahmedabad.
As much emphasis as we place on physical health and wellbeing, we also need to emphasize how critical it is to get treatment for mental health issues. There is a real mind-body link, and we can’t have a happy and healthy existence if we ignore our mental health. One of Dr. Rahul Chandhok’s everyday responsibilities as the Head Consultant for Mental Health and Behavioural Science at Artemis Hospital Gurugram is juggling patient evaluations in a time-sensitive manner. He also talked on the stigma associated with mental health and how treatment can only be successful when both parties are involved.
Seeing patients recover and lead fulfilling lives, however, is equally satisfying. Following therapy, a quiet, reclusive patient blossomed. When they ran into me years later, they told me how successful they were now as a teacher and were overflowing with confidence. With a charming tale from his career, Dr. Rahul Chandhok said, “Moments like that make the challenges worthwhile.”
