Indias First Of Its Kind Book Launched Highlighting The Heartfelt Human Interest Stories Of the Doctor Patient Relationship

Doctor's, Patients, health and healthcare involve all humans. Everyone of us had fallen ill at some point or wanted to be a Doctor at another. In good times, this relationship is 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 have 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 is 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, Ranjit Patil, state minister of home, law and justice, Ms Shaina NC and many renowned doctors. The book is a sneak peek into the world's of Medicine & healthcare.

Written in a 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' kind of format, this easy to read book contains short stories written by patients and Doctors about their experiences with health and healing. The book contains chapters from some of the best doctors in India and 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 Kamal Mahawar, Dr. Marcus Ranney, Dr  Dheeraj Mulchandani 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 occurring all over the world owing to the cutting-edge technologies which have transformed the healthcare industry. The life expectancy all over the world has more than doubled in the past few decades, 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, “Once upon a time, doctors were considered akin to God. The stethoscope was revered and their healing touch was discussed far and wide. But scenario has changed now, the doctor-patient relationship bond which was unaltered by technological interference, and there is a widespread distrust between both as people are at war with their healthcare providers.”

She added, “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 and may just inspire both, the doctors and the rest of the world to re-strength the beautiful relationship. It is for the first time that there is a manifesto of Doctor’s rights being shared along with the Patient’s rights. This is a book on human interest stories, based on the Doctor Patient Relationships. It's an easy read & will be found touching & empathetic by patients & Doctors alike.”

So, whether you are a Doctor or a patient, whether you have benefited from or suffered at the hands of the healthcare system, this book gives you a great chance to get an inside peek into the world of healthcare. Riveting and unputdownable, this must read must be a part of your reading plans soon.