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1. DOCTOR AS A SURGEON
A surgeon must develop armamentarium of technical skill. Each surgical procedure should be made with the idea of accomplishing a certain goal. "How you do it" is not important than "Why you do it". Surgeon should do least amount to gain maximum result. Correct only that is needed to be corrected and not alter that which is pleasing to the eyes.
A successful surgeon will realise his personal limitations and respect them. The overzealous pursuit of perfection will be the down fall of any surgeon. During operation, in some difficulty, it is better to know when to quite so that the operation does not get out of control and the result becomes unsatisfactory.
The surgeon or physician should self evaluate periodically the results of his therapy or operation and technique employed so that the progress in technique and improvement in results can be achieved. If the doctor is his own sharpest critic, his results will continue to improve.
The doctor must develop his talent for communication and interview process with patients. He must listen attentively and explain in simple useful terms exactly about the illness and line of therapy and results. He should have the patient in confidence by informing and discussing, even if patient is not well by performed therapy or operation. It will help in preserving the physician-patient relationship and thus preventing litigation.
During interview and examination, the doctor must be able to recognise certain problems or challenge area of the therapy or operation. He should point out possibility of alteration and complication liable to occur and explain why they are challenging or what problems can arise.
The surgeon must able to recognise the patients who may become problem due to emotional or mental instability or those who expect more than what can be delivered. This takes some experience and practice.
2. DOCTOR AS A MEDICAL TEACHER
A primary duty of medical teacher is to teach the students although other duties like patient care, research work, administrative work, social commitment, however, are forced upon him, thus lowering the efficiency and work output.
Among the multifactorial duties of a medical teacher, the worst affected responsibility has been teaching.
The feeling of not endangering the hierarchical and important academic position in college, if one very easily neglect the teaching responsibility, is undesirable and will affect the position of the teacher adversely in future.
This is thought that negligency of teaching happens because a good teacher who has been devoting his entire time and energy for teaching has hardly been awarded. On the contrary, no body has ever been fined or punished for poor teaching.
Always remember, "Do the best of teaching you can". It will provide you self-satisfaction towards the one of basic duties of a medical teacher, and also enhance your popularity among students who are future doctors in community i.e. source of publicity of your knowledge, talent, efficiency and calibre.
It is not necessary that a good teacher is one who is brilliant, but one who is able to get through his students and develops in them the interest in the subject that he teaches.
3. DOCTOR AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
The physician who is interested in research activities must devote some of his time. He should attend regular conferences and seminars. He can attend and work in medical centres equiped with the update facilities for short time. There should be no hesitation in showing the talent and merit.
Research of high standard and health care costs money and can be spent at times although there is very little tangible return on the surface from this investment.
Money may be one of the limiting factors in developing countries and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Changes need to be made within such constraints. Communication and writing style should also receive special attention.
Try to spend reasonable money and time as you can in research and development whenever you get opportunity. This will maintain your progress and will be beneficial for welfare of human kind.
Make it a habit to note down immediately, any significant ideas or thoughts that comes to mind as you may not remember them later. If thoughts or idea of original research or work comes out, or if you have performed a high quality research or worth recording, it is very difficult for any one to keep the documents confined to himself. Therefore, be careful for a person to whom you entrust for your confidential documents, research or original ideas.
Scientific misconduct* is commonly encountered in recent years. Such activities reflect the moral standard and cordial attitude of the researcher or scientist. This is an unethical practice, culpable act not only threatens the integrity, but also undermine the credibility of scientific literature. Thus, such fraudulent research and poor quality of work is reflection of a primitive independence. It is hunger of early enhancing the reputation in academic circles.
The research work should not be only aimed for production of number of papers. It should also not be based on what has been done recently in some of the developed countries as it is routine among the new growing scientist or researcher or medical doctors. The research should be priority basis on problem and peculiarities or illness occurring in own areas, regions and country. The researcher not only himself, but should create an atmosphere in which truth and honestly thrives and prevails.
4. DOCTOR AS A LEARNER AND LIBRARY
Always keep in mind that still you are a learner. Always learn from other's experiences and feel obliged to those who share their experience with you.
Always attend scientific conferences and seminar once or twice in a year inspite of your busy schedules.
Never hesitate to attend refresher course if it is beneficial to you or your patients. Take participation openly and frankly in scientific deliberations, listen the view of other learned colleagues and also show your talent.
Do not hesitate to follow good advice from any body even if he himself does not follow it. For example, if a drinker or smoker advises you to abstain from these habits, while is himself he is indulged in them.
ROLE OF LIBRARY
Acquiring knowledge is a primary and strong base for improvement of medical science in any country. Therefore, establishment of a well equipped library is mandatory.
Library and literature are the best source for updating knowledge and to know the recent advances and developments in medical science and technology. This will help in skilful work and services to man kind.
It is correctly said (by Sir William Osler) to study medicine without books is to sail an uncharted sea, while to study medicine only from books is not to go to sea at all. Patients and their look-after are greatest source for doctors to learn.
The learning of medicine is limitless like an ocean. Both the books and the practical work have equal importance in learning the medicine. Every person has some special knowledge, so always try to learn from him.
Pay respect to and discuss freely with, all types of persons either poor or rich, irrespective of caste or creed, regardless to private business or government service (as employee or employer), if you have any inclination to learn.
5. DOCTOR AS FAMILY PHYSICIAN
Family physician should know basic concept of all branches and disciplines of the broad family of medicine. It is a challenging art, science and practice.
Sometimes a family physician or general practitioner has to set as a craftman to compete with "Watch craft" and man with sorcery even today in some areas of developing countries, specially in rural community.
Doctor should have self confidence and not allow to develop inferiority complex to compete with man indulged in next word, night hag, necromancy. A general practitioner should have basic knowledge in medico-legal work, medical ethics. Proper training is also essential to face challenge posed by medical litigations which will provide them more confidence towards duty with pride.
6. SPECILIZATION AND SUPER-SPECILIZATION
A doctor should surely be a specialist in one particular subject or branch of medicine, but should also have a basic knowledge in general. He should not have an over confidence of higher specilization to an extent that causes bilateral bitemporal hemi-anopia of super-specilization.
Sushruta states "He who only knows one branch of his art is like a bird with one wing".
It is also correct "Man can learn nothing unless he proceeds from the known to the unknown".
Do not select a line for higher specilization, if there is no advanced technology or no growing skills and tremendous scope.
Similarly do not select the place of your working, where the services of your speciality are already existing, otherwise this will create rift between you and your own colleagues. Whichever sector you select, should provide best possible quality of your services according to the need of patients.
Remember well, a high quality and skilful services require hard working, thorough knowledge of the subject, dedication, devotion, honesty, morality, sacrifice, politeness and good behaviour towards the patients. You should not compromise on any aspect of above, if you wish to be a highly reputed doctor in the society.