Read the Old Testament “Sirach” 38 about doctors. Sirach is not printed in some versions of the Bible

Much love
George

Yes, you are right, we shouldn’t generalize and my apologies to all the good doctors in Bombay and around the world who are genuinely concerned about their patients good health and welfare. Unfortunately it is the “bad eggs” as you put it that give all the other doctors a bad name.
I am grateful to a few doctors in Bombay thanks to whom I can walk again (touch wood) and have a near normal life. Then again I am thoroughly disgusted and totally vexed at the doctor who caused me to get crippled. By the way there have been numerous complaints against this doctor (a nephrologist from Nanavati) and only recently one of his patients sued him for wrong treatment and won the case but then lost the appeal.

I know you must be thinking that the reason I have issues with the medical profession is because of my own experience and I should not allow this to cloud my judgement and objectivity, but I have heard similar stories from a lot of other people too.

In lighter vein I suggested that since Osama bin Laden has a kidney problem, this doctor should be sent to treat him. He will be able to kill the elusive Al Qaeda leader, a task that the joint forces of the US, Britain, Spain, India and a host of other countries have not been able to accomplish.

One of my uncles was also misled by an unscrupulous doctor but fortunately for him he decided against the doctor’s advice. I have chronicled his story in response to your previous article “Watching my own passing away”. That story could also be related to the current article but I did not want to repeat myself, so I only wrote it once.

By the way, I really appreciate your quick reply to my response. You were always very unassuming; in spite of your stature in the community and that was one of the things that struck me when I met you at your sister’s house. I am glad that you haven’t changed and are still as humane as you used to be.

Sincerely

Sheila Titus

I am with you. But we cannot generalize.
The bad eggs get away with it because the Medical Council of India that oversees the functioning of doctors and Medical Colleges is one of our most corrupt bodies.
Things may change because the new Health Minster has started an investigation about private medical colleges auctioning their seats for 2-3 crores especially to MRIs and believe me, the colleges have been recognised before even the building has been constructed.
The office bearers who have been on the MCI have been there for a life time.
I recently released a book written by brilliant doctor Christopher D’Souza of Holy Family Hosp.

I said “Doctors are the flowers of our civilization, bringing hope and sometimes healing into sick rooms. These are doctors who practise an art and do not ply a TRADE. It is because they have a sense of humour and are humane and because they have had an incision and have experienced pain

God bless you for your concern. Violent ,vigalante patients are already beating updoctors everyday in India sometimes for no fault of the doctor. We do not want another extreme
Much love and thank you for visiting my site.

I liked this article very much as I have liked all the articles written by you over the past so many years when I lived in Bombay and now for the past 12 years that I have been living in the US. I was lucky enough to meet you ver briefly at your sister’s house in Santa Cruz when I was still in high school and was a class mate & good friend of your niece. I will always cherish that moment.

Anyway to return to your article, I absolutely agree that we the people should get together and root out all the unnecessary evil in the community and while I agree with all the specific details listed above you left out a very important self righteous criminal who is able to legally get away with his crimes, namely the “Doctor”.

Do you know how many doctors get away with misdiagnoses & wrong treatment? Do you know how many people have had to suffer becuase of the doctor’s greed and reckless disregard for human life? Do we have to put up with doctors who check out their stock portfolios before deciding on whether or not a patient needs surgery?

It is time for the people to wake up and fight against this evil. I can give you a lot of examples with names if you need, but I do not wish to take up too much space in your column.

By the way, please understand that I know that you have plenty of close relations who are doctors and I have nothing against the doctors in your family, and have not heard a single complaint against any of them.

I would appreciate your response to my ranting and would be glad to give you more details if you need.

Thanks a lot.

Sheila Titus

Over here, more & more scandals are being uncovered about MPs making the most outrageous expense claims.

Corruptions seems to be a global phenomena & it is ironic that people react more to fighting swine flu.

Ax