Doctors in India? What is your views?

[furious_gamer]

It might look like just another debate, but it isn't. It happens to me, and so there is no i-heard-so event in this post.

It was 2003, and i had severe stomach pain, all of a sudden, and i never ever got sick like that till that day. I went to nearest doctor, and after lot of tests, he confirm that it is stomach ulcer. I was quite surprised, because i have very good food habit and i used to eat in time. So i took pills(later i realize those are only painkillers ) given by him, and it was ok, though still less painful. And i used to get this pain very often say once in a month, so we went to another doctor, i told him i got some kinda lump in lower-stomach and he again made it clear that it is stomach ulcer.

Then it was fine from 2005 and i was doing good. Then again, at 2009, i got severe stomach pain, for which i admitted in big clinic in Chennai and to my surprise they ran lot of tests, again i mentioned that lump thing to the chief doctor and even he tell the same thing, Stomach ulcer. In these times, the pain is excruciating. I still remember i didn't sleep straight 48 hours, because if i lay on bed, pain throttles from 0-100 immediately so i stayed up and sit down for 2 days. After a week, it was ok and my life becomes normal.

Later 2011, December, after a week from my marriage, i got the stomach pain, and went to see a doctor. Immediately after looking at the lump, he told me it is Hernia. And i was shocked to hear that and want to confirm. So went to specialist and he confirmed the same. And i underwent surgery within next 3 days, and the chief doctor was asking me, how long you have this, i said almost 8 years, and he was like WTF! Yes, he even scolded me for being so careless.

The big thing is, while surgery there was some complications but overall it went fine. Although, if i do the surgery a year or so later, i would have end up removing my spermatic cord , which means i might end up being impotent .

Can you imagine, the pain i have gone through all these years, is because of some dumb-a$$ doctors(not one, 4 doctors ) carelessness?

1. If the doctors at my place have diagnosed this earlier, i wouldn't end up with surgery complications, and if i did the surgery back in 2004, it would have been quite easy for me and doctors too.
2. Why would doctors not even looking at lump area and w/o looking they are telling me, it was stomach ulcer. Are they even real doctors?
3. Such an reputed hospital in Chennai missed out such big lump? Are they fu(king cheating patients?

What is your view regarding the doctors in India?

AFAIK, 50% of them are fake. And most of them only know few things and they tell patients to follow certain things, which is not even needed for them.

Finally, if a doctor is telling w/o even looking at reports or at the wound/lump/whatever-it-is, just run from that place and look in some other hospitals. Also, even some big hospital chains are doing this, is kinda shocked Please beware of these small clinics and don't go to these small clinics, where the doctors treat you like i-don't-care-attitude.

 

[RCuber]

Did you go to a Clinic or a Hospital in the first time?

 

[furious_gamer]

^^ First time, Clinic, after that hospital, every time. And the one i am talking about in Chennai is big hospital.

 

[dashing.sujay]

Its really sad to see you suffering like this. Your post makes me remember satyamev jayate's doctors' episode. just mugging up doesn't makes good doctors. I bet the doctors you faced were the ones who got their degrees on the basis of donation. Sometimes it may be the case of your bad luck of misdiagnosis though.

PS: Being born in a doctor's family makes me feel so relieved.

 

[furious_gamer]

^^ Thanks and yes. Why do i suffer and go through pain, when there is a remedy? One more big thing is, if they don't have idea of something, they have to recommend us the specialist, so we can consult with them. Isn't that good, from patients POV and also from Doctors POV?

Also, think if the last doctor i went also told me the same thing! I would end up removing my spermatic cord! It scary even to think about that.

And i am not talking about town/village, it is a city(Madurai, Tamil Nadu) and people around these places come to my city for treatment. Why there is no strict standards for clinics/hospitals? Nowadays you can see may clinics/hospitals, where there is not enough facility to mention it as hospital, but still they run. It's such a shame and doctor's are like bees, they are everywhere but few of them sting us, badly.

 

[dashing.sujay]

Its not necessary that doctors of only big cities are good.

I'll give you an example. There's a doctor in my city, a friend of my father. He recently bought kind of very expensive machine to treat stones. This facility is only second in our state. thing to notice is only lower middle class patients come for that treatment. Reason as my father says, people have such mindset that if they're paying 2x amount for same treatment in a relatively big city, and 10x amount in metros, they think that they'll get better treatment which is not at all true. And citing same reason he didn't accept my proposal of starting a hospital.

 

[TheSloth]

I thought Madurai hospital is very good. I heard thats the second hospital of asia having all medical equipment. And i heard Chennai General Hospital is also good

 

[furious_gamer]

Its not necessary that doctors of only big cities are good.

I'll give you an example. There's a doctor in my city, a friend of my father. He recently bought kind of very expensive machine to treat stones. This facility is only second in our state. thing to notice is only lower middle class patients come for that treatment. Reason as my father says, people have such mindset that if they're paying 2x amount for same treatment in a relatively big city, and 10x amount in metros, they think that they'll get better treatment which is not at all true. And citing same reason he didn't accept my proposal of starting a hospital.

I never said, hospital in cities are good, i was telling why hospitals are bad in cities?

I thought Madurai hospital is very good. I heard thats the second hospital of asia having all medical equipment. And i heard Chennai General Hospital is also good

This is not case with all. Still that hospital is big in South Chennai and i didn't expected a crappy treatment at a premium. Apart from money, i was tored apart in name of tests, and gone through severe pain for around a decade(yes, 8 years). Why wouldn't a single doctor, tell me that it is hernia and not fu(king stomach ulcer..!

 

[dashing.sujay]

I never said, hospital in cities are good, i was telling why hospitals are bad in cities?

And i am not talking about town/
village, it is a city(Madurai, Tamil
Nadu) and people around these
places come to my city for
treatment

Didn't that meant what I replied?

 

[swordfish]

doctors in big hospitals are worse then small city.. atleast they give you some time and try to understand the problem, listen to you.. in big hospital they just want to quickly see 10 patient in half an hour and go..

 

[d6bmg]

I Then again, at 2009, i got severe stomach pain, for which i admitted in big clinic in Chennai and to my surprise they ran lot of tests, again i mentioned that lump thing to the chief doctor and even he tell the same thing, Stomach ulcer.

Don't worry about the consequences, name it please.

 

[Sarath]

In my experience, Doctors from small cities are much better (more caring) than in big cities. I have been visiting this particular ENT doctor who is just so good. He is from AIIMS and runs a clinic in Doctors Colony, Visakhapatnam. He doesn't care about money at all, he caters to mostly poor patient and when asked why he doesn't take the fee on time, he says that he has enough and doesn't need to much money.

Now a doctor like this is idea, unfortunately not everyone is like that. Some people are just good by nature.

One of my family members went through an operation at a hospital in Vizag. There was a post operative infection which caused lots of complications. It was their fault. This is not the 15th century to catch an infection on the operating table. I was aghast at such mistakes and also the managements indifference to the incident.

The problem is people do not complain, like we didn't. I was pretty young and this happened before I undertook MBBS myself so I was unaware of what the specifics were. But today I know it was gross negligence and should have been properly followed through.

What you should do is, take all the receipts and test reports and lodge a complain with the hospital for medical negligence. Or if not legally, atleast let them know you are unhappy with the mistake and sent them a written complaint or maybe go to their google review site etc and post your experience there.

Had it happened today, I would have compiled the entire report over the years and sent a copy to the hospital and asked them if I should legally pursue the matter.

Having said all that, Medical services are far better in India than in any other country. You should know why many Indian and foreigners come to India for their health checkups and surgeries beyond it being cheap. Of course the rich can go to UK etc.

India is like one of the only countries where doctor like the example I have given you can be found. In most other countries it is seen like any other profession and is heavily capitalised.

 

[furious_gamer]

^^ Well, i cannot go legally, because i don't have those reports/bills/etc with me(my mistake, i know). For the clinic in my city, i will pay a visit and let him know what he did to me. How much pain had i gone through.

And after this incident, whenever i have a chance to meet any doctors, i will ask them lot of question, and then hear what they say, and call my friend(she is a doctor in Chennai) to discuss about this, and make it clear. And for medicines, i always discuss with her and it seems, most of the doctors prescribe costly medicine where cheap and good alternatives are there. For ex, (i forgot the name) i used to buy some diabetes tablet for my mom which is so damn costly, then my friend told me some other brand, which is 3 times cheaper compared to what that doctor prescribed.

After then, i stopped taking my mom to that guy and to some good hospital where things are good. They take good care of my mom, they listen to patients, and they don't suggest some pills just because they get some commission. Things are scary in the current scenario and people need to be aware of things that they are going through. Otherwise, no matter who, they will rip you apart and take your money.

 

[dashing.sujay]

^ Those are generic medicines and are cheaper than non-generic counterparts to such a level which many won't believe. For a medicine costing in lakhs, one can get the same genetic version in a mere few thousands.

 

[furious_gamer]

^^ Yes, a year ago i spent 1.8-2k every month for my mom's diabetes tablets every month, and now, after we consult with the present consultant, it was reduced to 700 buck per month. I mean WTF! I save easily around 1k. But the thing is, people doesn't know these things and it will take decades to realize IMO.

 

[hellscream666]

2 incidents come to mind as I read this :

incident 1 :
I had a nasty fall down the stairs (around 7-8) a few years back and while I was busy trying to protect my fragile phone(moto razer ) , I ended up twisting my knee in a bad way. It was paining a lot for like a couple of days so I decided that see a doctor about it. Now I am no light weight and the doctor took one look at my knee and told me it is due to my weight and I should reduce it. So I began jogging,playing etc all the while ignoring the pain. Some days it would become so bad that I was unable to get out of bed. This went on for a while and another doctor and a physio therapist later, it was still the same. By then I was walking with a pronounced limp as I was not able to support myself on that leg ( it was so bad that it was impossible to put my pants on standing on one leg). Now around a couple of years after this, I had to go to Germany for some work related stuff and there I had the misfortune of falling down while attempting to ski. The doctors there did scans on my leg,took a few xrays and told me that there was a ligament tear and the cratilage under my knee has been crushed. I was blaming myself for attempting to ski when he informed me that this was not a fresh injury and has been there for a while and gradually worsened over the years. On returning to India , I had 2 choices : 2 months of intense ayurvedic treatment or a painful surgery. I opted for the ayurvedic treatment, and it was the time when I rediscovered what pain was. Thankfully at the end of it all, I can walk without a limp now and can run a little but when its cold outside or when I stress myself a little, the little pain that shoots up reminds me of how I was left almost a cripple by some incompetent doctors whose blind prejudice prevented them from even carefully checking my leg and blamed it all on my weight.

Incident 2 :
This happened to my mom last year. She was feeling a bit under the weather and so decided to visit a doctor who stays nearby. The doctor assured us it was nothing but normal fever and prescribed a few medicines for her. Now they were pretty damn costly antibiotics but then I was under the impression that they would help in curing her faster. Instead, around 6 hours after she started taking the medication, my mom began to have chills, she began vomition and was unable to even stand for a while. We called up a family friend who is a doctor and she informed us that these medicines are super strong and are not supposed to be given like this. She asked us to stick with normal paracetamol and once the effects of the old medicine was over, a couple of paracetamols and she was much much better.

Well it is no secret from the above incidents where my sentiments lie in this matter. I have great respects for people in the medical profession because they studied hard to get to where they are, but these sort of idiots are the ones tarnishing the names of all the good doctors out there.

 

[furious_gamer]

^^ Well, your first incident was same as mine. Both would have ended up horribly, if not diagnosed/treated at right time and by luck, it was fine. But all these is because of mindsets of doctors and their ignorance.

 

[Anish]

I just read your first post dude.. Thats even enraged me !.
I don't know about other districts but I will speak facts about doctors in Tamil Nadu (Ofcourse in my perspective):
1. As you said there are 50% good ones.
2. These good ones got their seat purely in merit basis/ took mbbs out of passion and service motive
3. Hope you know about hefty donations they pay to medical colleges here. So, you know the obvious outcome.
4. Most of the doctors coming out do not really want to become doctors. (its their parents)
5. Have seen a couple of good doctors in CMC,Vellore. But its hard to get a appointment.
6. Last week, I crashed my bike on a auto and went to cmc clinic, there they keep novice doctors to treat locals, do you know what i got? just a ointment for scratches and a painkiller.
7. AFAIK, the more probablity is that if you are *very* rich, you become a doctor in TN.
8. India has lost another good doctor because of reservation systems.

Even doctors in government hospitals have separate clinics to earn money and needless to say, they are referring patients to that clinic when we go to govt. hospitals!.

OFFTOPIC: My friend took his dog to a govt. hospital and it seems they are refusing a particular vaccine and asking to take it in a private hospital. and he claims that its some kind of a deal. WTH?

 

[swordfish]

sometimes i understand better then sm stupid doctor when I study and read from internet

 

[furious_gamer]

I just read your first post dude.. Thats even enraged me !.
I don't know about other districts but I will speak facts about doctors in Tamil Nadu (Ofcourse in my perspective):
1. As you said there are 50% good ones.
2. These good ones got their seat purely in merit basis/ took mbbs out of passion and service motive
3. Hope you know about hefty donations they pay to medical colleges here. So, you know the obvious outcome.
4. Most of the doctors coming out do not really want to become doctors. (its their parents)
5. Have seen a couple of good doctors in CMC,Vellore. But its hard to get a appointment.
6. Last week, I crashed my bike on a auto and went to cmc clinic, there they keep novice doctors to treat locals, do you know what i got? just a ointment for scratches and a painkiller.
7. AFAIK, the more probablity is that if you are *very* rich, you become a doctor in TN.
8. India has lost another good doctor because of reservation systems.

Even doctors in government hospitals have separate clinics to earn money and needless to say, they are referring patients to that clinic when we go to govt. hospitals!.

OFFTOPIC: My friend took his dog to a govt. hospital and it seems they are refusing a particular vaccine and asking to take it in a private hospital. and he claims that its some kind of a deal. WTH?

That is sick! By the way you explain things, make me ask one question, Are u from TN?

And finding good doctors is difficult and getting appointment is much difficult...

sometimes i understand better then sm stupid doctor when I study and read from internet

lol.... yes, even now i understand some basic things from internet so when i go to doctor, i will ask some question and he will reply, by looking at me like i am villain. Most of the doctors dont prefer to answer patients questions.