doctors' day speech

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I’m R.Sathish and I stand before you on this glorious evening to speak a little, well, not so little on the vital doctor-patient relationship prevalent in our society.

Last Wednesday, after much cajoling and threatening, my mum coaxed me into taking the much-feared medical check-up. I confess, medicines and I have never been best of buddies. Stray dogs, screaming dads, poochandis, paiyes and chandramukhis have never frightened me, but a tiny little prick with that needle can, to use the popular phrase, “beat the hell outta me”. I don’t know why, but it takes me 25 litres of water and double that amount of courage to gulp down a simple Crocin. At my dear old paati who has the pleasure or rather the horror of taking half a dozen pills a day, I can only stare in awe and amazement. Bravo, paati, bravo, I’m proud of you!

Half an hour later, amma and me valadukal-edhutufied into our general practitioner’s clinic and it was no different from what I had imagined. Plastered to the wall was this huge poster, “Cigarette Smoking Is Injurious To Health”, surrounded by tiny adverts singing the glories of half a dozen pharmaceutical wonder drugs. And of course, there was the 27-around receptionist akka, the TV on top with the funky hair dude on Sun Music, thathas and paatis complaining of “kannu mangala irukku”, mamas and mamis about BP and cholesterol, and to add a tinge of life and animation to this otherwise boring scene, were the little kiddos of all ages and sizes moving around restlessly.

If looks can kill, believe me, the doors in washrooms and those outside doctors’ rooms would be first in line. The fierce horrible looks these wooden frames receive would humble the most obstinate of individuals. The looks of those rushing is best described in my mother’s words as “Usuru pogaramari”, and the looks of those leisurely strolling out can be described as “moksham kadachamaari”.

Eventually, the much-stared-at door creaked open, and the expectations of everyone surged. The receptionist enjoyed her one moment of glory and took her own sweet time before feasting her eyes on me. “Sir, neenga poonga”, she echoed softly. Mr.Sundar and family walked out, relieved and reassured. Sonu, their son, was down with a bout of fever and god forbid, the doctor had diagnosed it as nothing more than an ordinary fever. Not malaria, not typhoid, just a mild ordinary fever. Medicines. Two days rest. No ice creams. 200 Rupees. Sonu’s ordeal was over.

Reality check, ladies and gentlemen! Is that all? Does the role of a doctor end with two worthless pieces of paper? The concern, care and efforts of a doctor, are these menial things bought when required and discarded when not? When a doctor scribbles his signature across a prescription, is he indeed penning it on a divorce application, alienating himself from his patient forever? Beautifully phrased as “vennumna vechhukaradu, illena thookipodaradu?”, are the services of a medical specialist yet another stock on the stock exchange? Are they, ladies and gentlemen?

A doctor’s role is one that is accompanied by remarkable selflessness, sincerity and extraordinary skill. Be it an ordinary paramedic, or a world-famous neurologist, doctors are on call 24*7, ignoring personal commitments, avoiding material pleasures, striving hard to alleviate your disease and discomfort. They are those agents of God, who deliver life from the crushing tentacles of death. A mother cares only about the well-being of her child. On the contrary, a doctor chooses to dedicate his life and career to ensuring the physical and mental well-being of thousands around him. It is the doctor who, with a combination of knowledge, experience and skill, works tirelessly to decode the enigma that is plaguing your body and usher in much-needed respite thus exhausting himself, physically, mentally and emotionally in the process. However, by forgetting this service once our illness is cured, aren’t we, ladies and gentlemen, being self-centered? For a person who has saved our soul from the evil clutches of death, doesn’t he DESERVE a more humane treatment? Should he be discarded from our lives not unlike a used napkin, his purpose served, life outlived? If not as an individual, doesn’t his work at least merit respect, appreciation and acclamation?

Doctors have affected the lives of millions worldwide. From Siamese twins to congenital heart disorders, they have corrected and reconstructed the lives of hundreds and thousands of people. I don’t advocate you worship only “life-saving professionals” like your cardiologist or ophthalmologist, even your family physician, when seen in proper light is worthy of your prayers. Every morning, when you say your prayers, remember God doesn’t come down on earth to save you. The altruistic souls who guide you every time when you are lost, those people who come to your aid when you are in need, they are the true incarnations of God! Remember, your God isn’t in the temples. He isn’t in the churches, nor in the gurudwaras or in the mosques. He is also an human being, racing from one checkpoint to another in this insurmountable race called life. He lives and breathes, like you and me. He is dressed in white, and lives not far from you. He is none another than your doctor!

Ladies and gentlemen, on this glorious day, let’s all promise to lend these gentlemen-in-white the credit they have for long deserved. A game of chess, an invitation to your daughter’s marriage, a surprise birthday party, let us make doctors a part of our family, a soul who attends to not only our sickness and sorrows, but also celebrates with us our victories, triumphs and joys. Let’s take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate the benevolence, magnanimity and charity of our neighbors in white.

To every single doctor in this world, I raise my hand in admiration and adulation. You have played a very crucial role in maintaining the peace and harmony in this world. You have been doing a marvelous job and I urge you to continue playing this wonderful role for generations to come. Great work, gentlemen!

And thank you one and all for being such an awesome audience!

Good day!

<This is the speech I delivered at the Indian Science Monitor organised BC Roy Memorial Award Function at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Auditorium, Mylapore, Chennai on the 1st of July 2010>