Get well soon

There used to be something comforting and reassuring about the image of a patient’s relative carrying a doctor’s briefcase and ushering in the man of medicine into the home. However, over the last few years, the image – and the bond it signified – has faded. While doctors are, and will remain, indispensable, patients have become increasingly wary of medical professionals. Rising medical costs, suspicions of malpractice, lack of transparency and effective communication, and heightened patient expectations have contributed to this erosion of faith. This month’s TOI Debate, held on Doctors’ Day, invited doctors, hospital owners, administrators and social workers to discuss the causes for and possible solutions to the problem. They came up with various suggestions to help the doctor-patient relationship…