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Some years ago, a colleague mentioned to us, that both the print and electronic media largely focused on the negative aspects of our life and society in general and that there was a need for some newspaper or channel to feature only good, positive stories. Picking on these cues, some TV channels have begun featuring programs like ‘Positive India’ and ‘Real Heroes’. The website “The Better India” brings several positive stories on a regular basis. I love these features! These developments partially fulfill the wishes of our old colleague who would like to read positive stories happening around us.
When we read these stories, we find that standing up against our societal norms to bring about the much-needed changes in our society is not an easy task. These heroes have to struggle against all the odds and hurdles that the high and mighty throw at them. Several hardships have to be endured to bring about these change in the mindset of people before they get their success. With the growing trend in reality TV shows, would then one want another show to bring into focus our weakness, drawbacks, idiosyncrasies, the strange remnants of our past mores? Yet Aamir Khan’s ‘Satyameva Jayate’ does just that – but with a purpose – to unshackle the Indian minds of our stereotyped preset response to all our problems - by perpetually being in denial!
Although the reality show ‘Satyameva Jayate’ (SMJ) has been lauded for its efforts to bring to the fore such perverse anti-social and criminal practices as female foeticide, child sex abuse and dowry harassments in its first three episodes, the fourth episode which dwelt on the subject of ‘intentional malpractices’ of doctors seems to have ruffled the feathers of the medical fraternity. So we have an issue at hand with the 4th episode of SMJ! Reportedly, the doctors are up in arms (albeit without their scalpels) to protest against ‘the manner in which the show has painted all doctors with the same brush and tarnished their image’. Some doctors have also raised several questions about the veracity of facts presented in the show. This post does not wish to go into the correctness of the information, but to dwell about the main allegation cited above.
So has Aamir really painted all doctors with the same brush and tarnished their image?
Aamir had been careful enough to mention the following:
1. The show is not about medical negligence – everybody makes mistakes and this episode will not bring out any case about the harm caused due to medical negligence.
2. The show is only about bad intent.
3. There are doctors who do good service and do not indulge in any malpractices nor do phenomenal work in the interest of the society.
4. The aggrieved patients on the show are fighting legal battles and being subjudice, the show does not intend to influence the court proceedings.
5. Dr. Devi Shetty has been honoured for his innovative scheme for the poor in the show.
In view of the above, how then, one wonders, does the 4th episode be said to ‘paint all doctors with the same brush and tarnish their image’?
If the medical fraternity wants to come clean on the ‘cut system’ from specialists, diagnostic centres and pharma companies, several measures need to be taken by them collectively before they can prove or disprove this allegation! Dr Devi Shetty, when asked about this malpractice says “There is no denying this, but it is not rampant as yet, and before it becomes rampant, measures should be taken”.
There are several measures like spreading the awareness about generic medicines that the medical associations can undertake for the benefit of the public at large. There is very little information on this subject now! Why don’t the public at large know why the generic drugs are not prescribed and only branded medicine are?! There may be issues involved, but is it not for the same bodies that came up in arms to help the public understand the subject better?
Instead of cracking down on malpractices in medical education, can we continue to live in denial of these facts and continue to make medical practice a business due to the steep amounts to be invested upfront than ever before! Is it not time to clean up the Augean stables – or is it already too late?
This post began with these questions in my mind – Why do we focus on negative aspects of our society and not the positives? Why do we need another reality show that brings out our dirty linen in a TV show that enters our living rooms every Sunday? Why don’t we only read/listen about the good positive developments and not about the tragic, sad stories?
And the answer lies in this – That we live in denial, disown our shortcomings and would love to believe that all is well, push our troubles under the carpet and hope they vanish without so much as having to deal with it.
Many say what SMJ tells us is nothing new - but the fact is that reality shows like SMJ bring them out for us to ponder, compelling us to rethink and correct ourselves.
SMJ episode 4 proved to be a bitter pill for the medical fraternity. Would it continue to live in denial or quickly realize that something needs to be done to save the situation – have a hard look at whatever issues that really exist and deal with them with determination?
Only time will tell.
Blogger’s Post-script: One would have liked if two issues that face the general public great difficulties in respect of doctors -
1. Why do all doctors take holidays on Sundays? Where does one go if an illness comes a-calling on this day of rest and recuperation? Can some doctor be available in every region (in turns) or they can observe different days off so someone is available?
2. Why do doctors refuse house visits, even for ailing Senior Citizens, who can’t come to their dispensaries?
When we read these stories, we find that standing up against our societal norms to bring about the much-needed changes in our society is not an easy task. These heroes have to struggle against all the odds and hurdles that the high and mighty throw at them. Several hardships have to be endured to bring about these change in the mindset of people before they get their success. With the growing trend in reality TV shows, would then one want another show to bring into focus our weakness, drawbacks, idiosyncrasies, the strange remnants of our past mores? Yet Aamir Khan’s ‘Satyameva Jayate’ does just that – but with a purpose – to unshackle the Indian minds of our stereotyped preset response to all our problems - by perpetually being in denial!
Although the reality show ‘Satyameva Jayate’ (SMJ) has been lauded for its efforts to bring to the fore such perverse anti-social and criminal practices as female foeticide, child sex abuse and dowry harassments in its first three episodes, the fourth episode which dwelt on the subject of ‘intentional malpractices’ of doctors seems to have ruffled the feathers of the medical fraternity. So we have an issue at hand with the 4th episode of SMJ! Reportedly, the doctors are up in arms (albeit without their scalpels) to protest against ‘the manner in which the show has painted all doctors with the same brush and tarnished their image’. Some doctors have also raised several questions about the veracity of facts presented in the show. This post does not wish to go into the correctness of the information, but to dwell about the main allegation cited above.
So has Aamir really painted all doctors with the same brush and tarnished their image?
Aamir had been careful enough to mention the following:
1. The show is not about medical negligence – everybody makes mistakes and this episode will not bring out any case about the harm caused due to medical negligence.
2. The show is only about bad intent.
3. There are doctors who do good service and do not indulge in any malpractices nor do phenomenal work in the interest of the society.
4. The aggrieved patients on the show are fighting legal battles and being subjudice, the show does not intend to influence the court proceedings.
5. Dr. Devi Shetty has been honoured for his innovative scheme for the poor in the show.
In view of the above, how then, one wonders, does the 4th episode be said to ‘paint all doctors with the same brush and tarnish their image’?
If the medical fraternity wants to come clean on the ‘cut system’ from specialists, diagnostic centres and pharma companies, several measures need to be taken by them collectively before they can prove or disprove this allegation! Dr Devi Shetty, when asked about this malpractice says “There is no denying this, but it is not rampant as yet, and before it becomes rampant, measures should be taken”.
There are several measures like spreading the awareness about generic medicines that the medical associations can undertake for the benefit of the public at large. There is very little information on this subject now! Why don’t the public at large know why the generic drugs are not prescribed and only branded medicine are?! There may be issues involved, but is it not for the same bodies that came up in arms to help the public understand the subject better?
Instead of cracking down on malpractices in medical education, can we continue to live in denial of these facts and continue to make medical practice a business due to the steep amounts to be invested upfront than ever before! Is it not time to clean up the Augean stables – or is it already too late?
This post began with these questions in my mind – Why do we focus on negative aspects of our society and not the positives? Why do we need another reality show that brings out our dirty linen in a TV show that enters our living rooms every Sunday? Why don’t we only read/listen about the good positive developments and not about the tragic, sad stories?
And the answer lies in this – That we live in denial, disown our shortcomings and would love to believe that all is well, push our troubles under the carpet and hope they vanish without so much as having to deal with it.
Many say what SMJ tells us is nothing new - but the fact is that reality shows like SMJ bring them out for us to ponder, compelling us to rethink and correct ourselves.
SMJ episode 4 proved to be a bitter pill for the medical fraternity. Would it continue to live in denial or quickly realize that something needs to be done to save the situation – have a hard look at whatever issues that really exist and deal with them with determination?
Only time will tell.
Blogger’s Post-script: One would have liked if two issues that face the general public great difficulties in respect of doctors -
1. Why do all doctors take holidays on Sundays? Where does one go if an illness comes a-calling on this day of rest and recuperation? Can some doctor be available in every region (in turns) or they can observe different days off so someone is available?
2. Why do doctors refuse house visits, even for ailing Senior Citizens, who can’t come to their dispensaries?
