Doctor a job most respected but challenging

Lt Col Nazmul Huda Khan, MPhil, MPH :
The profession of a doctor is undoubtedly the most respectful one in the world and the dignity of a doctor in a society is unparalleled to any other person. In many parts of the world, doctors are considered next to the Almighty and this respect for doctors is quite the same throughout the world. On the other part of the coin, in the extremely complex and delicate medical services; a slight mistake would lead to loss of life of a person and hence they must be respected for being able to save people’s life from complicated situations.
Doctors are truly the unsung heroes of a nation in terms of crisis like Covid-19 pandemic, even if it be by sacrificing their own lives due to treating of infected patients. As the frontline fighters, the number of doctors and health workers serving the Covid-19 patients worldwide selflessly is countless. In our country too, they have contacted the disease while treating patients. So many of them have died and infected with the disease till today and there are others who recovered from the disease and then have gone back to perform their regular duty. Thus, a world without doctors and medication is unimaginable and so it is undoubtedly the most respected profession in the world.
On March 30 each year, many countries of this planet have celebrated the National Doctors Day to honor the doctors for their dedication and contributions to society and the community. This is the day to esteem the ones who see us 365 days a year. From tertiary level hospitals to rural communities, doctors pave the way to better healthcare for their patients
Different countries observe their doctors’ days on different dates. In US, Doctors Day was first observed at Winder, Georgia, on March 30, 1933. Dr. Charles B. Almond’s wife, Eudora Brown Almond, wanted to have a day to credit physicians. She took this initiative to mark the day when the first ether anesthetic for surgery was administered by Crawford W. Long, M.D on March 30, 1842. On that day, Dr. Long operated to remove a tumor from a man’s neck through administering ether anesthesia. On this pretty occasion, the community mailed greeting cards and placed flowers on the graves of deceased doctors on this first celebration in 1933. On February 21, 1991, President George H.W. Bush proclaimed National Doctors Day to honor the Nation’s physicians for their dedication and leadership. Neighboring India has July 1 for commemoration of its Doctors’ Day. July 1 is both birth and death anniversary of legendary physician and second chief minister of West Bengal Dr. Bidhan Roy and the day is dedicated to him.
It is obvious that healthcare is a complex and comprehensive services forever. With more advanced tools and information doctors are having an overwhelming job to diagnose and treat their patients every day. Being a doctor is the most respected job in world, but it comes with set of challenges. They use their skill in the field of health and get a cure for diseases. They are required to keep themselves updated with the everyday advancement in healthcare and treatment. It is considered to be a ‘noble profession’ simply because it fulfills the most vital of all human desires and that is to survive. As a doctor, regardless of specialty, they are exposing themselves to various diseases, working longer than normal hours and are ultimately, responsible for the lives of their patients, which can be a heavy burden to carry especially when they lose a patient. People don’t really stop to think about the pressures that doctors face on a daily basis.
The new Ipsos Global Trustworthiness Index reveals that in 2021, doctors are considered the world’s most trustworthy profession. The Ipsos Global Trustworthiness Index has reported the level of trust afforded to many types of professionals since 2018. Across 28 countries around the world, a Global Country Average of 64 per cent rate doctors as trustworthy, followed by scientists at 61 per cent and teachers on 55 per cent. Great Britain leads the world in trusting doctors with 72 per cent rating them as trustworthy, a proportion which has risen slightly since 2018 (67 per cent). Doctors are similarly highly trusted by Dutch people (71 per cent) and Canadians (70 per cent). In Hungary and Chile, the proportion rating doctors as trustworthy has risen by 19 per cent points between 2019 and 2021. Over the same period, it has also been increased in Saudi Arabia (17 per cent), Poland (12 per cent), Brazil and Russia (both 10 per cent). Survey conducted by Istanbul’s Medeniyet University on the most respected professions in Turkey also shows doctors top the list.
However, there may some common complaints against physicians that they do not attend patients properly and before even a patient has finished relating the details of health problems, doctors write out prescriptions for a host of diagnostic or medical tests or check-ups. Sometimes, there are even allegations of withholding release of bodies of patients because their families could not manage to pay the outrageous bills. Complaints are there to allegedly keeping already expired patients on ventilators in order to inflate hospital charges. Sometime these unexpected happenings lead to chaos which can be easily managed with professional integrity of the doctors.
Recent pandemic has presented an opportunity for soul searching by doctors. Here is a disease that spares none-irrespective of life’s station. So, there is a need for strengthening bond between physicians and the community in general. The healthcare system certainly deserves more attention, more investment and its judicious expenditure.

(The writer a doctor is now deputed to Kuwait).