"Role of Media in maintaining DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP" by Dr. Kumar Partha Pratim: (Letter to the Editor, The Assam Tribune, Published on 20th of December, 2011.)

Role of Media in maintaining DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP by Dr. Kumar Partha Pratim: (Letter to the Editor, The Assam Tribune, Published on 20th of December, 2011.)

                    Medical profession is one of the noblest professions ever. Doctors, no matter what, try to cure a patient. The possibility to do such depends on certain variable factors. The most important of which is the condition of the patient at the time of presentation to the health care facility. Even at a tertiary care setup like medical colleges, where all the modern amenities of facilities are available, if the condition of the patient is too crucial, it won't be possible to revive the patient. In most of the cases, where doctor patient conflicts arise are of accidents and emergency where the critical condition of the patient won't allow the physician enough time which is needed even for the emergency management, not to mention about the  brought dead patients. 

                    Sometimes it is also seen that some of the media terms a doctor as guilty without even start of the investigations. In India, as per our constitution, how a person can be termed guilty even before the start of the judiciary procedures..!!!

                    Media plays a vital role in maintaining Doctor Patient relationship. It is not that everytime a medical professional does the right thing, but nobody is supposed to take law in their hands, neither the patient party nor the media, nor the doctors. In case of any confusion or complaints regarding poor delivery of medical care, there are appropriate authorities to complain to. When there is death of a family member, the mental state of the attendants become vulnerable. But in most of the cases, attendants who reaches just after the demise of the patient creates the chaos; the closest relatives who took care of the patient day and night and who knows about the real service of the medical professionals usually stay out of these. But occassionblly they also become aggressive by the influence of some external factors. Doctors are also human beings. They need a peaceful and safe environment to work on the patients solely for the benefit of the patients. But they should also try their level best to overcome their tempers and emotions in the time of these conflicts and act accordingly and then it can be expected that everybody would appreciate their effort.

                    Media should try to reproduce the real facts in front of the public what is happening in the health care set ups, but they should restrain themselves from giving their own judgement to term somebody as guilty. They can thus help regain people's confidence in this noble profession.

Regards, Dr. Kumar Partha Pratim.