In the same city there is a place where a bright smile can become a cause of a fight and a patient can be denied treatment. Yes, this godforsaken place is KGMC (King George's Medical College) - now known as Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University.
I could never imagine that a name can have so much influence on one's character. But, it seems with a change of the name, this premier institution has certainly changed its character and personality - no more refined manners and ettiquate underlining King George's legacy but unfortunately the institute now displays a panaromic view of uncouth and unruly behaviour.
Its doctors now find places in headlines more for their unruly behaviour, than for their achievements and laurels. Roughing up patients' families or speaking rudely to patients is accepted behaviour of KGMC doctors.
Today, I happened to witness the height of misbehaviour and misdemeanor when a senior doctor refused to see a patient. Why? Because the patient made a blunder - she smiled while the doctor was shouting at the top of her voice at a guard. Displaying her insecurity, Dr Vinita Agarwal, the Professor in Skin Department, took this smile (which was an innocent gesture of exchanging pleasantries between the patient and an intern who was sitting in front of the doctor) as a personal insult.
She not only picked up a fight with the patient she also refused to see her. The patient (Alka Pande - myself) had waited for more than an hour at the OPD (Out Patient Department) to show myself as I was having skin allergy for a while. I was aghast to see such uncouth and childish behaviour from such a senior doctor! Now I could imagine what happens with common patients and how they are treated.
I wondered if these doctors, who take Hyppocratic oath to treat all patients indiscriminately and who supposedly should adopt sympathetic attitude towards their patients, are really doctors!
I thought of registering a complaint with the Vice Chancellor of the University regarding the unethical behaviour of the doctor but on second thoughts I gave up the idea - thinking if the Head of the institution was strict enough to monitor the working of its doctors - the doctors would have never dared to act in such manner - which means no one gives two hoots to the patients' sufferings.
The dirty and unhygienic conditions of the OPD also confirmed that both the doctors and the Vice Chancellor were least concerned about their institute and its up keep, how can they have a professional attitude towards the patients? The institute is functioning because it is a government institute and it has to function and the doctors here are coming to their work because they are getting good wages. There is no compassion and no sense of service to the needy - I think that is too much to expect from them.
I vowed never to come back to this institution even if I am dying and this is the only medical institute on this planet to give me some treatment.
I was disappointed - disappointed with our unprofessional system and unprofessional behaviour of our doctors.
What gave me a hope that humanity is not completely dead in the medical fraternity of this city and there are still people - who can be termed as doctors. Dental College - Bang opposite KGMC is its Dental Unit - which is not only located opposite Medical College, it is also a paradox to medical college. The doctors are polite and nice and the place is clean and patient friendly.
What amazes me is the question - what is it which makes these two units - medical and dental - both part of the same institution - so different to each other -- one fully professional and committed and the other still waiting to be taught how to be professional or even humane.
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