Why growing public dissatisfaction about medical profession?

Prof. Dr. CMK. Reddy

General & Vascular Surgeon, Halsted Surgical Clinic, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India

Though medicine is advancing leaps and bounds, ironically patients’ dissatisfaction is also on the rise. There are many reasons for this unfortunate situation:

High expectations, in view of the scientific advances, specialization and superspecialization of Doctors.
Increased awareness of their rights and privileges.
Ready access to information in various media and internet.
Corporate phenomenon & aggressive marketing.
Suboptimal communicative skills or lack of diplomacy.
Consumer activism and low threshold of the society for litigations.
As in any profession, we also have a few ‘black sheep’, though vast majority of us do honest, sincere job.

I tried to analyze some of these issues and suggest practical solutions, in an earnest attempt to reverse, or at least slow down this trend.

“Our hospital has the very best technology. I’ll be using GPS to locate your appendix.”

Why clinical diagnosis?

Even in this era with high tech diagnostic armamentarium, there is still a place for clinical diagnosis, to:

Short list the differential diagnosis.
Minimize the investigations, save time & expense.
Derive emotional satisfaction by the clinician about his clinical acumen.
Make a physician expedient and cost-effective.
Boost patient’s satisfaction and confidence, by detailed systematic physical examination.
Improve Doctor-patient relations

“It’s just a new patient security system to verify your identity before we are allowed to give you any medications or discharge instructions.”

Ambience & attire

“Dress makes the man”

The tranquility the patient gets, as he walks into a neat, hygienic, tastefully decorated environment is of immeasurable value, particularly if he is under distress and emotionally charged because of the illness and anxiety of its cost and outcome.

There is no need for exuberant appearance nor ugly exhibition of wealth in the architecture, beyond a certain point. Sometimes it may create a negative opinion, under the fear that those overheads might reflect in the ultimate cost of services.

A warm reception with a smiling face, by a neatly dressed Doctor, preferably wearing a white apron, inviting him into the room by his name, is very refreshing and puts any one at ease, for further proceedings.

“I would be a lot healthier if you’d stop finding things wrong with me!”

Why growing public dissatisfaction about medical profession?