Have Faith in your Doctor-By-Kumar  Bahukhandi (Editorial )

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I had pain in my neck due to not sleeping properly in my fast sleep or often there is no identifiable reason for muscle spasm as I read it in some books .

The Orthopedic surgeon’s waiting room where I sat waiting for my turn was brightly lit today morning . The ‘clinic’ atmosphere was very much in evidence, with nurses in starched white uniform shuffling back and forth, and a grim notice saying “Keep Silence Please” hung up on the wall. Another notice saying that the “Doctor is in” was enough to make my BP shoot up, but I tried to calm myself with the thought that the ‘Neck pain ’ was nothing serious, and besides everyone around me was going through the same things neck pain or a fractured hand or leg . I had pain in my neck due to not sleeping properly in my fast sleep or often there is no identifiable reason for muscle spasm as I read it in some books .

The nurse on duty called me out by name, and I was ushered into a cabin where a gentleman with a kind face sat. “Good Morning , doctor,” I said and was greeted with an enthusiastic smile and nod. I was made to lie on the ‘dangerous bed’ while the doctor got busy in checking various parts of my decolletage. Finally, he motioned me to rise. “There’s nothing much wrong with you” said the kind looking gentleman. “However, the trouble you mention could have several reasons, it could be using thick pillow or not using pillow at all or not be in sense while in sleep (that’s normally no one). To be on the safe side we shall have your blood and stool tested. An X Ray is also recommended”.

I was given a sheet listing various tests – X Rays , blood cholesterol, sugar, urine, stool etc , just to be on the ‘safe side’. Together with the tests, I was also given addresses of a clinic where these tests could be done. As I left the clinic , I felt ‘safe’ indeed. The tests done, in the evening I returned to the doctor, armed with a sheet of reports. At this time, my BP was rising looking at his face. The doc studied the papers with a worried look, but in the end he heaved a sigh of relief. I also felt greatly relieved, when I found him smiling. . “You are lucky,” he said, his face gleaming with pleasure. “The reports are encouraging. Everything is okay.” I could feel a burden lift off my chest.

As I made my way out of the clinic, I felt a tinge of gladness. It was foolish of me to entertain fearful thoughts of the medical clinic. How helpful and encouraging the doctor was, I thought, everyone at the clinic was like a friend specially the nurse a tall Keralaite girl with her dialect accent and the movement on her waist while she was walking was the cutest one . The only sadness was that my pockets were emptied of a few thousands rupees, but I consoled myself with the thought that it was money well spent. And for the doctor, it was money well earned.

I wish I were wrong, but I am afraid I might be right. Most medical practitioners thrive on a basic principal of medical psychology. I knew of a doctor who gave an honest diagnosis of each case, recommending only those procedures that were an absolute must. His practice failed, and the reason is not far to seek. When a doc examines you and tells you there’s nothing wrong, you come away with the feeling that his knowledge of his subject is poor. You won’t ever like to see him again.

And so doctors everywhere resort to a game that plays on human psychology. They make you do a whole lot of tests knowing well that most of the procedures are totally uncalled for. As the patient has no way to verify the doctor’s judgments, he goes ahead, doing as he has been asked to do. In the end, when nothing serious has been found, two things occur: first, the patient comes away highly impressed with doctor’s skill and expertise. And secondly, he feels a sense of relief knowing that everything’s been examined and found to be ‘within normal limit’.

This is the way it works. I know of a lady who visits her doctor regularly for no apparent reason. There are many people, like this lady who find solace in the doctor’s clinic at the slightest trouble. I pity this woman for she is a victim of a delusion which says something is wrong which only the doctor can put right. Doctors however have no delusions. They are shrewd enough to know that the patient likes to be fussed over and that a whole series of medical examinations will put the patient’s mind at rest. But doctors aren’t a bad lot altogether, mind you. Human psychology can and does have an important role in the process of healing. Maybe that’s the reason why one practitioner put up sign in his chamber which said, “Have Faith in your Doctor”.