Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Rescuing medicine

The views expressed in the article "Rescuing modern medicine from its traps" (June 15) are significant at a time when the field of medicine has made rapid advances and sophisticated equipment are used for a variety of tests. Although such advancement is a necessity, it has widened the gap between physicians and patients. Competition has forced doctors to expose patients to advanced tests. Hospitals hand over a standard prescription for various tests even if they are not relevant. While we must continuously strive to introduce modern techniques in medicine, we should not be oblivious to the fact that the human relationship between patients and physicians assumes the greatest significance in the treatment of illnesses.

R. Muralidharan,
Chennai

Sympathetic hearing and compassionate healing are unfortunately fast becoming things of the past with the advent of corporatisation of healthcare. Family doctors have become `first-aid' people, on whose advice patients flee to corporate hospitals.

Seshagiri Row Karry,
Hyderabad

Even with all tools of examination such as blood tests, MRI scan, endoscopes and what not, misdiagnosis is not rare. Even in the U.S., it is a serious problem. The doctor-patient relationship is frayed because customers have replaced patients. Once a business transaction is over, customers cease to be customers.

H.N. Ramakrishna,
Bangalore

As youngsters, we were told that medical students were failed even if they got half a mark less than the pass mark. This was done to reinforce that even a small mistake was enough to cost a patient his life. It is no secret that these days a patient is subjected to an entire battery of laboratory tests before the doctor prescribes a medicine. I am sure a capable and dedicated physician can treat most of the patients without a single laboratory test.

J. Sobhanadri,
Bangalore

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