|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 19 January 2003 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Physician, heal thyself by FACTOTUM The scarlet robe and dangling insignia of an august office - President, Ceylon College of Physicians did not deter the 27th incumbent Dr. Sarath Gamini de Silva from stepping out of the solemnity of the occasion to evoke a titter here, subdued silence there and at times feelings of guilt everywhere as the mirrored images of a multiplicity of faces - ugly physicians, errant practitioners, harassed doctors, caring medicos, exemplary professors, demanding patients were all brought into focus in an entertaining induction address from the podium at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute auditorium the other day. Firmly rooted in the tradition of the wise who "remember those who have at some time wiped their tears" (Tirukkual) the provincial fighter having won acceptance in the metropolis among his fellows recalled with gratitude his alma mater Richmond where he had made capital use of available resources guided by his parents (both pedagogues) to rise to a position of eminence not just within the confines of his profession but also beyond in the wider arena of life. If he transgressed the bounds of social grace in presenting the unvarnished truth, that deviance was in preference to sophistry and sham. Whenever there were barbs there were witticisms to match. At the end of the day then emerged a redoubtable personality ready to take on bounders on behalf of his fraternity and also dole out admonitions to errant fellows and rein them in to maintain the great principles and ethics that hitherto distinguished this noble (medical) profession. Turbulent times may be ahead during his tenure but he has the ability to temper turmoil with calm or even a coldness that he displayed in recounting how best he served almost everyone who meant something to him as a child who had by some grotesque quirk as it were, died under his care but had been quite pleased to be treated by him! Just as one augments weakness in sight with sharpness of hearing which the hard hitting doctor alluded to and capitalised on in addressing the invitees there was a happy blend of the philosophical with reality. Despite constraints of time, meagre facilities, low salaries, large number of patients (the perennial litany of woes of the doctor) Dr. de Silva went on to invoke the finer attributes of his kind, a kind word, a caring touch, that go a long way to relieve the stricken. Medicine he said is both a science and an art. The science may make the patient heal faster. But it is the art that will make him feel better. In a valiant attempt at self-criticism he said, "The irony is that we attempt to substitute a thorough clinical history and examination, for reasons of being too busy, with a whole heap of investigations. This defeats its own purpose as the overloaded laboratory produces unreliable results... The radiologist, who has hardly any time to meet the demand, produces a pre-printed report with some minor adjustments to suit the patient". Condemnation of such futile exercises was not reserved for the state sector alone. Commenting on medical check up packages offered by the private sector which set the trend for too many superfluous investigations there was confirmation of what the discerning public are already aware of. 'To entice the doctors, some well-known labs now have ready made request forms where the doctor only has to tick the tests he wants. No doubt the laboratory knows that there will be more ticks than would have been possible otherwise'. The interest of the patient was uppermost in his mind and Dr. de Silva exhorted his fellows to play down interests of the service provider. Is the medical establishment dictated to by market forces, becoming a threat to the health of the nation? Dr. de Silva emphasised that doctors have allowed themselves to be exploited. His clarion call was to put their house in order. Still a small manageable community there was space to instill values in the practice of medicine. 'Physician heal thyself' was the message that surfaced in prose and verse portraying a scenario where 'a disproportionate number of doctors end up with premature heart disease.' Coming from a member of the profession who has been elevated to a prestigious position among his fellows who can contest such pronouncements? |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
