by Sachin Murdeshwar

Dr Debraj Shome and Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker have narrated a book titled ‘Dear People, with Love and Care, Your Doctors’

~Present on the occasion was Shri Kamal Kishore Kadam, Chancellor, MGM Institute of Health Sciences~

Mumbai: Doctor’s, patients, health and healthcare involve humans and humanity. Each one of us has been a patient at some point or wanted to be a doctor at another. In good times, this relationship has been an epitome of belief, love, and care.

In the recent times though, the doctor-patient relationship has suffered from a lack of trust and perhaps empathy, and the connection seems to be much less than it used to be. While earlier Doctors used to be treated as God, these days there are unfortunate news of conflicts between Doctors & Society. In fact, even the incidence of violence against doctors has increased.

Today, patients have access to information that makes it easier for them to second-guess their doctors as the internet allows them to do their own research, diagnoses, and treatments. This desire for immediate treatment had also contributed to the disturbance in the sanctimony of the relationship and the development of a distance between patients and Doctors.

It is vital to revive and strengthen the bond of trust to create better communication and health care decisions. Dr Debraj Shome and Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker, narrate a book titled ‘Dear People, with Love and Care, Your Doctors’, to give a sneak peek into the world of medicine, and motivate millions to maintain faith in the doctor-patient relationship.

This book is published by Bloomsbury, the renowned publisher. The book has been blessed by His Holiness, the Dalai Lama with the foreword, and has been acknowledged by Vinod Tawde, Higher and Technical Education Minister of Maharashtra, Dr. Ranjit Patil, State Minister of Home, Law and Justice, Ms Shaina NC and many renowned doctors. The book was launched at MGM Institute of Health Services, Navi Mumbai, in the presence of Shri Kamal Kishore Kadam, Chancellor, MGM Institute of Health Sciences.

Written in a short story format, this is an easy to read book and contains heartfelt stories written by patients and doctors about their experiences with health and healing. The book contains chapters from some of the most renowned doctors from India and all across the world, including Dr. Mohammed Rela, Dr Pradeep Chowbey, Dr Ravi Wankhedkar, Dr Nitin Kadam, Dr S Natarajan, Dr Lalit Kapoor, Dr Subramania Iyer, Dr Jesse Berry, Dr Wolfgang Gubisch, Dr Gabriela Casabona, Dr. Jesse Comas, Dr Kamal Mahawar, Dr. Marcus Ranney, Dr Dheeraj Mulchandani, Dr. Tejal Lathia, Dr. Rinky Kapoor and many others.

Dr Debraj Shome, eminent Facial Plastic & Cosmetic Surgeon & Co-founder and Director, Debabrata-Auro Foundation underscored, “We often hear discouraging stories of doctors being abused and hospitals vandalised. The narrative is gradually turning negative-a dismal reality for both doctors and patients. But we tend to forget that there are many medical miracles are occurring all over the world owing to the cutting-edge technologies which have transformed the healthcare industry. Today a cure has been found for many diseases and life expectancy all over the world has more than doubled in the past few decades. This has happened due to the wonders of modern science.”

He added, “The book aims to bring back the focus on the unshakeable foundation of doctor-patient relationship through inspiring stories from the diaries of 30 doctors and 5 patients. These are stories of triumph, empathy, positivity, loss and, sometimes, failure. Likewise, it goes one step ahead and captures the experience of people who surround a doctor – the mother of a doctor, a surgeon’s husband and an acid attack survivor. These stories underline that a doctor too is a human being after all. Hence, these stories are a source of motivation for everyone.”

Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker, well known Bariatric Surgeon & Co-founder and Director, Debabrata-Auro Foundation said, “In good times, this relationship has always been an epitome of belief, love and care. In the recent times though, the doctor-patient relationship has suffered from a lack of trust and perhaps empathy, and the connection seems to be much less than it used to be. However, although the picture looks grim from outside, there is a lot of good also that is happening in the medical world and it is important to take note of that. This book can be an answer to what may have gone wrong in a profession which from time immemorial, has remained one of the most respected ones. It hopes to inspire both, the doctors and the rest of the world, to re-strengthen the beautiful relationship and empathise with each other. This book on human interest stories is an easy read and touches a chord with patients and doctors alike.”

So, whether you are a doctor or a patient, this book gives you a great chance to get an inside peek into the world of healthcare. Riveting and unputdownable, make this must-read a part of your reading plans soon!

 “This book surely is an eye-opener, and can help revive doctor-patient relationship. Moreover, the heartfelt stories of the patient will surely encourage you to take charge of your health, and stay hale and hearty. I urge people to read this informative book, and get benefit from it,” concluded Shri Kamal Kishore Kadam, Chancellor, MGM Institute of Health Sciences.