Mahindra Patyal
Bharmaur
Renowned neurosurgeon and former senior official at IGMC Shimla, Dr. Janak Raj, has shared his reflections in the wake of the IGMC incident, emphasizing the profound difference between a doctor and a good doctor.
According to Dr. Raj, “A doctor only sees the disease. He diagnoses, prescribes medicine, and moves on. For him, the patient is just a case—a number, a file. His voice is cold, his eyes fixed on the clock, his words hurried. He may be correct and skilled, but his treatment reaches only the body, not the heart. The patient leaves with medicine in the body but emptiness in the soul.”
In contrast, a good doctor sees the human being. He reads the pain on a patient’s face, recognizes the fear in their eyes, gently holds their hand, and reassures them: “Don’t worry, I am with you. Everything will be fine.” He calls the patient by name, listens fully, and explains with compassion. His voice carries empathy, his behavior respect. He knows that alongside medicine, hope itself is a powerful cure—and he becomes that hope.
Dr. Raj stressed that hospitals are not merely brick-and-mortar structures but sanctuaries of suffering humanity, where every tear must be wiped and every fear embraced. “Every word spoken in a hospital can either heal a wound or create a new one,” he said.
He added that today’s educated and aware society demands not only machines and medicines but also sensitive hearts and respectful words. True healing, he argued, cannot be defined until healthcare workers show compassion toward one another and toward patients.
“Let us together restore hospitals to the place where people feel not only cured but also respected, reassured, and safe. Because ultimately, treatment is not just of the body but also of the mind—and humanity and compassion are its true medicine.”
