There’s no denying the impact of Satyamev Jayate. Conversations about generic drugs are becoming as common as cricket and Bollywood. The fourth episode on medical malpractice didn’t go down too well with medical community. An umbrella body of 21 medical institutions asked Bollywood star Aamir Khan to apologize for accusing doctors of malpractice in his TV talk show “Satyamev Jayate”. Medscape India said the representation of malpractices supposedly perpetrated by doctors was “rather sad” and Aamir Khan should offer his apologies. Yesterday we asked health.india.com readers whether Aamir Khan needed to apologise for the comments made during the show.
Most of our readers were adamant that the actor did nothing wrong and simply provided factual evidence.
Ruby B felt that all Aamir did was state incidents based on factual evidence and he needn’t apologise to anyone and asking for an apology shows that they are guilty or some wrongdoing. She feels that instead of asking for apologies doctors should look within.
Charanjit Singh felt that it was good that finally someone like Aamir had the guts to finally say the things we all had in our minds. He said that this proved that Aamir wasn’t just a reel hero but a real life one. He was also of the opinion that though this wouldn’t change things overnight it would make an impact in the long run by making people aware.
SM was adamant that most doctors were corrupt and the hospitals were the same everywhere.
Atul felt that only partial truth was being showcased in the episodes. For example the first episode was blaming doctors and courts whereas the government is to blame for not taking action. He felt that in episode 4 dealing with medical malpractice the show only targeted doctors. He felt that due to the country’s education system there were too few government medical colleges which meant that people who didn’t get into them would have to spend almost a crore to get into private ones. This leads to a huge debt which is unfair on docs when compared to other professionals like engineers and lawyers.
Esquire stated that nowhere in the show did Aamir say all doctors were corrupt and the episode did highlight the good work being done by docs.
RK felt that corrupt doctors do exist and many of them are hand-in-glove with pharmaceutical companies.
Dr Tushar however felt that the show depicted docs in a poor light. He agreed that doctors shouldn’t take cuts from pharma companies but felt that they didn’t get their dues financially. He said that the services doctors provide cost money and those expenses had to be recouped. He also felt that a doctor never had time for his family or vacations and it was hard to deal with patients’ expectations. He also added that since doctors are overworked sometimes errors did creep in but that wasn’t really a doctor’s fault.
Replying to Dr Tushar’s comments Aru felt that he was misreading the episode. It was never about charging high fees but about corrupt docs who cheat their patients. Aru also suggested Tushar should have chosen a different profession if he wanted to lead an easier life.
Devashish Tarra replying to Aru’s comments said that one who’s not a doctor can’t understand the trials and tribulations of the profession. He said that if doctors didn’t get enough sleep his work was liable to suffer. A doctor is like every other human being and needs rest. He pointed out that in the UK doctors weren’t allowed to work for more than 40 hours a week and not more than 52 hours including on-call duties whereas in India most doctors worked for over 72 hours a week and were paid a pittance in comparison. He said that people fail to understand how tough it is for a doctor who’s ethical and honest. He said that the good news was that there were scores of young docs who were willing to earn a decent living without cutting corners or indulging in malpractice. He said patients need to realise that doctors aren’t gods.
It seems that we don’t have enough comments from doctors. We would love to hear your response. Please share your views. Either write in the comments section below or mail us at health@corp.india.com .
its true that doctor’s profession is a real tough one but that doesn’t mean that they will exploit the patients who r already suffering;physically,mentally and financially.hats off to the effort by aamir who has shaken the authorities and highlighted the malpractices.its a real fact that doctors do take a cut from pathology labs and hospitals which is a charged from the patient….instead of asking for apology the doc should stop all these malpractices as they hv chosen a noble profession not a business….
Hi,
Why should sir Amir Khan apolodise. He just said truth and Doctor must obey there duty instead said amir to apolise. amir does good thing. My full support to him . Look every body want good life. as doctor or patience.
Why are you doing curruption after become doctor as GOD.If you want money do business but not do curruption with this designation. Dear doctor you know one life value. One life can change india name.One good Doctor become great man and save many people life.India name go heighest when all obey
y there duty ,instead of complain why excuse come in picture?why?
Amir not said anything if you do not do it.
Just make one programm in your mind .Every life is precious.
You have mind if you want to earn money then all doctor together meet and find solution.
In out of india evdery body must have health insurance so i think doctor and patience both happy.
My father in law come in germany 2007.
But in frakfurt airport he was fell down and fecture happen ,immigiately ambulance come and go to hospital proper treatment happen there not first paper work but first proper treatment.
Dear Amir Khan you do really good thing .I am reaspect you from my heart.Do not apolied .you are Hindustani ,and i too.I am really proud of you .
Just keep it up.
Jor se kaho ,, SATYAMEV JAYATE”
jAI SHRI KRISHNA
varsha survaiya
I want to be doctor after 12th science but
The IMA should take steps to educate doctors on their duty. They are instead asking Amir to apologize. Was the IMA not aware of the Illegal practices being done/adopted by their member? Why they never came out to stop this. Rather in my opinion the IMA should be seized to exist. There should not be any association with out serving a noble cause to the society.
Whatever Amir has said in the show in the hard truth of medical profession. But it becomed very diffcult for few honest doctors/pathology labs to survive. The bad proffessional world around him makes it diffcult for him to survive. If a pathology lab do not pay commision to the doctor. The doctors declares the pathology reports as wrong. Patients belives the doctor blidly and fights with pathologists. Now in such situation what a pathologist should do? It is need of the day to for the patients to make choices about medicines, medical stores & pathology labs. They should not blindly follow their doctors orders in this regards. I feel this is the only way the system can be cleaned.
Satyamev Jayate
Amir is very truthful on this aspect of hospital. People are apprehension about hospital admission. Nobody want to get admission or hospital stay only for single day and always searching for one staff of hospital who know him and give him proper advice. but unfortunately this serial can not able to give the proper solution on this corruption. It needs to be centralization if it is possible definitely it can improve the health and hospital status of India.
I agree with many of the readers that the show isn’t trying to put doctors in bad light. All it is trying to do is expose the corrupt malpractices that goes on behind the scenes. As we all know corruption runs through the veins of our country and in every profession, a sad fact that we have come to accept as a part of our life. However, it is scary when people in power can place their materialistic desires ahead of someone’s life. Doctors have that power. I was studying to be a doctor and after quite a bit of research and immense soul searching I realized it is not my field of choice. I wanted to earn money and live a comfortable life. I work at a reputed Investment Bank with a decent salary but I work almost 80 hours a week. I didn’t get everything that I asked for but I can live with the fact that my greed for money didn’t kill anyone. If your comeback is going to be the negative sides of banking, well when did I ever say it was perfect? My point is if your goal is to earn money, there are far more better ways of doing it. Not necessarily easier though.
there are so many people in india hoping for a change but only few among them come forward..aamirkhan sir is one among them.when an person comes 2 do a gudwork many will b ready 2 oppose…if they oppose the corruption in the same way this position would never come….
Doctors should learn to take the show with a pinch of salt. Sacchai kadwee hothi hai. The reactions of the doctors were anticipated. I think its the corrupt doctors who will object to the show. Whereas if any honest doctors too are objecting, then they should in fact support Aamirs cause, as this will be a good chance for them to expose the corrupt doctors. How come the doctors who are asking for an apology from Amir were silent till now. Have they ever exposed any of these going-ons in the medical profession. NO! They were aware of it, but didn’t have the guts to say it. If these so called doctors are sure that all that was shown were lies then why don’t they prove it ? Such a show cannot be aired without thinking of the legal consequences ! Remember, Amir is a perfectionist and he has his proofs ! So it should be the doctors who should be apologizing to Amir instead of the other way around ! Wake up man, its not the stoneage any more !
well, one thing is certain, that in todays world every thing is business..the need for money comes first then the profession… the perfect example was the sad incident about the colonels wife..about the transplant surgery..how can that be a mistake from the doctors part??..it was intentional ..
Amir, You should never apologise for that. I personally want to do this. But as a common man, who will listen to me. But you are an icon, people watch you, listen to you. Only the corrupt doctor will ask you for apology. Is there anyway I can be any help. I will love to do that. I really really want to be part of your team. I don’t even know how to contact you or join you. You are doing terrific job. Keep it up. Just keep in mind ” you have a friend here, who can do anything for his country” Please give me a chance to join you and help you by all means. I actually need a reason to live.
Mr. Chander Sain Chauhan, I salute your thoughts. Same like you, even I have intentions to do something for my country and my fellow beings. I personally and strongly believe that there are many more like us waiting for an opportunity to join such cause and dedicate their life in the well being of our society.
Aamir, if you are reading these comments please understand that you are not alone….Continue with what good you are dong and the world follows u….