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LETTER TO EDITOR |
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Year : 2019 | Volume
: 8
| Issue : 11 | Page : 3769 |
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Healing touch of doctors – Today, tomorrow and always
Reena Doomra
Department of Pharmacology, Manav Rachna Dental College, Faridabad, Haryana, India
Date of Submission | 20-Sep-2019 |
Date of Acceptance | 21-Sep-2019 |
Date of Web Publication | 15-Nov-2019 |
Correspondence Address: Dr. Reena Doomra Department of Pharmacology, Manav Rachna Dental College, Faridabad, Haryana India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_800_19
How to cite this article: Doomra R. Healing touch of doctors – Today, tomorrow and always. J Family Med Prim Care 2019;8:3769 |
Dear Sir,
In your earlier issue, the letter “Impact of family medicine practice in combating Violence against Doctors” (Vol. 8, no. 8, August 2019) provides an insight into the doctor–patient relationship. It gives a clear understanding of the downfall of moral values.
Although traditionally doctors in India were treated with a lot of respect, recent trends in the society portray a gradual shift in the mindset of people regarding the medical profession. Earlier considered as a “noble profession” it has gradually changed from being a “profession” to a “duty.” Violence against doctors and healthcare workers has increased over the years, and there has been a decline in moral values with aggression and impatience increasing each day. Given a situation where a patient is already serious, one cannot imagine the mindset of the patients' party during those moments. Frustration and helplessness related to disease and finances, coupled with an already mentally crippled society, of which we all are a part, is leading to violence on the doctors. Having a Family Medicine Practice (FMP) in our healthcare system could bridge the gap between the doctor–patient relationship by having a support system for the patients.[1]
Indian Medical Association (IMA) has reported that 75% of the doctors in India have faced violence at some point of time in their lives. Frustration, feeling of helplessness, financial distress, agitation, a complex interplay of emotional, physical, and financial distress due to the unexpected death of a family member lead to violence on doctors. Young doctors and healthcare workers should be trained to convey the sad news and empathize with them in a secure environment. There has to be a proper communication to ensure that the patients' attendants do not feel lost in those critical moments.
No one can work in fear and to have a safe and secure working environment [2],[3] would greatly help our doctors to work with dedication and sincerity. Improving the communication between the patient and doctor by imparting training to the current generation of doctors would be of great help. Everyone wants to work with dignity, and the doctors are no exception. Come what may, they would continue to tread on their path and treat their patients as they have chosen the path of compassion and humility.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
References | |  |
1. | Tanwar P, Kumar R, Kumar C, Hussain S. Impact of family medicine practice in combating Violence against Doctors. J Family Med Prim Care 2019;8:2748-9.  [ PUBMED] [Full text] |
2. | Nagpal N. Incidents of violence against doctors in India: Can these be prevented? Natl Med J India 2017;30:97-100.  [ PUBMED] [Full text] |
3. | Kumar M, Verma M, Das T, Pardeshi G, Kishore J, Padmanandan A. A Study of Workplace Violence Experienced by Doctors and Associated Risk Factors in a Tertiary Care Hospital of South Delhi, India. J Clin Diagn Res 2016;10(11):LC06-10. |
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