Aberrant Evolution of medical profession: will it help the patient?

With advances in medical science, simultaneously there has been aberrant evolution of medical profession, education, regulation and medical industry. By provoking controversy about doctors for varied reasons, medical industry and law has been positioned between the doctor and  patient and  taken a center stage in health care. Till now, doctor patient interaction was the central point of the health industry, a core around which medical industry revolved. But now   this interaction, treatment and  almost everything is controlled by industry and regulated in some manner. There have been technical advancements to promote better treatment and diagnosis but these, at the same time, increase the cost of treatment, involvement of industry and hence dependence on investors.

 There has been advancements, but are they in right direction?

Discouragement  of medical fraternity:  The adage “To err is human” probably does not apply to the doctors anymore. Doctors are definitely regarded different from rest of the humans and are not supposed to have privileges that other persons of humankind are guaranteed. Hence they are harassed often for any adverse clinical outcome even though it may be because of poor prognosis of patient. They work under continuous fear and stress and are punished for each small or big error.

Commercial evolution of medical education: medical student are now forced to pay exorbitant fee with lower standards of education.  

Evolution in medico legal  procedures:  extensive and complex communication, technical advancements and legal interactions has taken a toll on the doctors. But more importantly, how that has improved the patient care or  doctor patient relationship? I feel, it has created fear in mind of doctors and deterioration of doctor patient relationship.

 Evlution of Doctor patient relationship and Trust :In all the complexity, trust between doctor patient has taken a hit. A good paternistic relationship, now has been converted to more of a legal one. Trust has been replaced by  mutual fear.

Evolution of Complex medical regulation and documentation: There has been overzealous regulation of medical profession. Time and resouces which should have been utilized for treatment of patients,  has to be used for complex documentation.

Evolution of media and social media: Painful retrospective analysis of work of doctor by media, courts and public contuse. Decisions which doctors has to take in moments are analysed retrospectively by everyone with wisdom of hindsight over years, without understanding complexities involved.

Evolution of Insurance sector: increasing cost of treatment and  medicolegal component has made both patients and doctors paying to insurance companies.

            This kind of aberrant evolution of medical profession has increased the problems of doctors and patients and it is not helping anyone. Ultimately it will help everyone except doctor and patient. Ultimately discourage the excellence in medical care.