Should family doctors make a comeback? Paediatrician explains

Modern medical science is incredibly complex, involving diseases, their causes, diagnosis and treatment. Doctors make a profoundly significant contribution to society worldwide due to the complex nature of this profession. It is their responsibility to lead and deliver healthcare services to the people. Their primary and most vital duty is to ensure that every patient receives the care and attention they need. Besides, doctors also play a major role in restoring the quality of life of patients.

Doctors also empower the patients to face or endure their condition with calmness. Noted paediatrician Dr Varghese Koshy of the Travancore Medicity Medical College, Kollam, speaks to us about the relationship between doctors and patients as well as the significance of family doctors.

Will family doctors make a comeback?
Yes, the concept of a family doctor will be back. Only in India can you consult a specialist directly with an appointment. Therefore, the idea of the family doctor, who serves as the initial point of contact between individuals and medical facilities, requires revitalisation. I am sure that family doctors will be back.

Have doctors changed with time?
Compared to earlier generations, today’s doctors show more commitment and involvement. That involvement once held great significance. I personally feel that prestige has now become a factor that dilutes and commercialises the profession. Doctors, like everyone else, have to earn a living. But, the commitment aspect must never diminish. People must also understand that times have changed. Doctors shouldn’t be viewed under the microscope of suspicion. They aren’t all the same. Just like any profession, there are good people and bad people.

Has the doctor–patient bond changed?
Although the new generation has advanced technologically, I doubt whether it has had an adverse effect on relationships and bonding. The doctor–patient bond will strengthen only if there is an emotional connection. Often, doctors are wrongly perceived, but not all are alike.

Ninety-nine per cent of doctors wish for their patients’ well-being; the rest is secondary. Doctors are humans too, so they differ from each other. A doctor should explain each stage of treatment to the patient in detail. That alone will eliminate half of the misunderstandings. Trust the doctor, and the process moves forward.

Your mentor
Without any second thought, I can say that my mentor is KK Divakar – a mentor, friend and a person I deeply respect. He was my neonatology professor and an unforgettable person in my life. He is now the Dean at Kozhencherry Medical College. I cannot forget him in my life and my career. If you enquire at Kozhencherry Medical College, you will learn that there is no other person who is as straightforward and ideal as him.

Unforgettable experience with a patient
A young girl, who must be five or six years old, was brought to me once. She had a persistent fever for six or seven days, and came to me after consulting many prominent doctors in Kollam. She looked severely pale, and her liver and spleen were inflamed. Due to my young age and lack of experience, I bluntly told the parents that she might be suffering from a serious illness and not just a regular fever. I asked them to see me again in the evening after the blood tests.

The family became agitated and told me that they had consulted many others before seeing me. I replied that I was giving my honest opinion. But, the results revealed that she had Acute Lymphocytic Leukaemia (ALL). The family then took her to the RCC for treatment. I was able to follow up on the case and suggest treatment plans from here. She was completely cured because of proper treatment. Today, she is married and visits me with her child. It was one of the happiest moments in my life. She could be successfully treated and cured only because God showed me the disease at the initial stage itself. I cannot forget that incident.