Medicine is not a trade

The other day, I was reading an article online where I found a quote from Padmashri Prof. Dr. P. V. A. Mohandas, founder of the Madras Institute of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (M.I.O.T), Chennai, India. I would like to reproduce it here with the hope that the learned physicians of our country would take a note of it:  “Medicine is not a trade; it is a calling where the physician thinks not only with his head, but also with his heart.”

I strongly feel that a physician should listen to the problems of a patient and treat him/her with reassuring words, affection and sympathy. In our country, one would find some physicians saying to elderly patients – “As you're old there is no effective treatment for you” or “Your immune system has become weak or this is your psychological problem” etc. The physicians should realise that they have a sacred responsibility upon their shoulder to treat patients to the best of their abilities and with total dedication and sincerity.

Professor M Zahidul Haque
Department of Agricultural Extension & Information System
SAU, Dhaka