Pricing the Conscience

23 people have died in Punjab’s Hospitals so far while more remain to be prone to
not getting the required treatment because doctors are on strike. Medical
Practitioners in Punjab are demanding increase in their salaries in line with
international standards. Young Doctors Association demands that doctors be paid a
minimum salary of Rs. 90,000 per month + benefits.

‘Medical Doctor’ is a profession looked up upon with reverence and respect like no
other profession perhaps because it promises to save human lives. But what these
young doctors have displayed in the past few weeks cannot be categorized in any
other terms than ‘Greed’. Greed has taken its toll on 23 innocent lives and
thousands more fear the same fate as the conscience of these doctors seems a little
week in its calling. YDA and its members today have proven that they are just like
all so deplored corporate people whose main motivation is money. So if you are sick
in Pakistan and your government is unable to pay the doctors lucrative salary
packages; the message that the medical community is giving is, well then you
might as well die.

A country where ‘Millions’ live below the poverty line and are deprived of the most
basic needs of survival, the doctor’s community has refused to provide its services
to its dying clients. The country is shocked at the complacent attitude of these so
called ‘saviors of life’ and their determination on cashing on the misery of the
public. As these public servants refuse to work on low salary packages, the public
remains to be a victim of this barbaric ‘tug of war’ between YDA and provincial
government.

The point to ponder for these doctors is whether or not they were aware of the low
salary packages when they got into the medical school in the first place. Its
common knowledge in the country that MBBS pass outs don’t earn as much as their
counter parts in other professions, yet they chose to become doctors. This being
their conscious and informed decision, it is incumbent upon them to take up the
outcome of their decision in full zeal and own the responsibility of choosing this
profession in the first place. If one feels uncomfortable in shouldering the
responsibility that comes with nobility, then he ought not to volunteer. Losing
precious lives in the process of demanding increase compensation from your
employer is by no means be acceptable to any society and while the demands of
doctors may or may not be justified the repercussions of these protests and strikes
are most definitely condemnable by all that posses some level of conscience.

Moreover ‘The Oath’ that Medical practitioners are required to take upon their
inducement in the work force is also worth noting. Following is the excerpt of that
Oath:
 “At the time of being admitted as a member of the medical profession:
I solemnly pledge myself to consecrate my life to the service of humanity
I will practice my profession with conscience and dignity
The health of my patient will be my first consideration “

How much these so called saviors have lived up to this oath has also been highly
controversial in the light of recent events. When they ‘solemnly pledged’ to
dedicate their lives in the service of humanity were they not aware of the
repercussions this might have? Has commercialization completely consumed all the
conscience from within us and has crept into the souls of the most dignified people
of our society? Under the heading of ‘Duties of Physicians in General’ in the
“International Code of Medical Ethics” which is binding upon every physician in
Pakistan it is stated:
“A physician shall not permit motives of profit to influence the free and
independent exercise of professional judgement on behalf of patients.”
Let alone influence the free and independent exercise, motives of profit have
influenced the exercise of even checking patients in the first place. If this is moral
conduct of physicians in our country and their conscience remains to be unmoved in
their stance; then I believe we in the corporate world are far better (usually
condemned for not having human considerations) in our untiring pursuits of profits
as we have never knowingly jeopardized lives of general public.

A medical student pays only a fraction of the actual cost of his studies in all
government medical universities and colleges. So for a person who has studies on
tax payer’s account for the most part; is it not his duty to pay back in form of
services to the community who has bared the burden of his education expense? Did
this thought never crossed the minds of these YDA members that they have an
obligation towards the general taxpaying public because it was they who has paid
for the expense of their studies?

The ethical conduct of Medical Doctors in recent days has become questionable and
condemnable as their actions-- no matter how legitimate their demands maybe;
have cost numerous and precious human lives. The duties and responsibilities
bestowed upon doctors are great and so is the profession and its sanctity must not
be jeopardized in blind pursuit of ends, as these ends might not be so treasured in
the end, when they are stained with blood of innocent patients. The reverence that
we have previously felt towards the medical community in the past must be
preserved and members of this noble profession must once again recognize their
greatness and embrace the valor that is left as legacy of the predecessors of this
profession and perhaps free us from the melancholy that we have entered in with
the thought of Greed winning over the human conscience and empathy.