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In today’s digital and connected era, work-life balance i.e. balancing professional life and personal life has become a big challenge for people of every profession. But when it comes to doctors associated with the medical field, people’s expectations often cross limits. Recently, a post shared by a doctor on a social media platform has created a stir on the internet. Venting his anger, the doctor wrote, ‘My house is not a 24-hour clinic or hospital, where anyone can knock on the door at any time and come seeking treatment.’ As soon as this viral post surfaced, social media users have been divided into two factions and a heated debate has erupted between the privacy of doctors, their right to rest and the expectations of patients.
The whole story of the viral post: Late night knock at the door and doctor’s pain
This whole thing started when a working doctor shared a recent incident that happened to him on social media. According to the doctor, he was resting at his home after a long and tiring day and spending time with his family. Suddenly around 11-12 o’clock in the night the doorbell of his house started ringing loudly. When he opened the door, a local acquaintance or neighbor was standing in front with his patient. The patient did not have any life-threatening emergency, but had mild cough and fever for the last 2-3 days, for which he had gone straight to the doctor’s private residence instead of going to the clinic during the day.
The doctor wrote in the post that people have to understand that after the clinic or hospital hours are over, a doctor is also a normal human being. His family, small children and old parents live in his house. Arriving straight at their doorstep without any prior notice or in case of serious emergency is not only a violation of their privacy but also an attack on their mental health and family peace. He wrote in clear words, “My house is not a 24-hour clinic. There are emergency wards in hospitals for emergency situations, knocking on the door of someone’s house is not the right way.”
People divided into two groups on social media: Who got support and who got scolded?
This post of the doctor quickly went viral on the internet and thousands of people started reacting to it. Social media users seem to be clearly divided into two different opinions on this issue:
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People standing in support of the doctor: The majority of users and other healthcare professionals have strongly supported this stance of the doctor. People say that doctors should also be considered as human beings and not a machine available 24×7. Proponents argue that unless a patient has a serious emergency (such as a heart attack, severe shortness of breath, or major injury), he or she should go to a 24-hour casualty/emergency hospital. It is completely wrong and against etiquette to mistake a doctor’s private home for a clinic.
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Argument of the opposing side: On the other hand, some users expressed displeasure over this post. He believed that medicine is not just a profession but a ‘noble profession’ (sacred service). If a patient comes to the doctor with hope, he should not be let down on social media like this. Some people also wrote that in a country like India where there is a lack of health facilities, a little more sympathy is expected from the doctors. However, people from this side also seemed to accept that it is not appropriate to disturb people at home in non-emergency matters.
Work-life balance versus the religion of medicine: where to draw the line of prudence?
This viral debate is not limited to just one doctor’s outrage, but it also highlights the serious problem of mental health and ‘burnout’ of doctors in today’s society. Doctors see patients in hospitals and clinics for 10 to 12 hours a day. After this, when they return home, they also have a strong need for rest, sleep and spending time with their families. When patients intrude on their personal time like uninvited guests, it increases the risk of irritability, stress, and depression among doctors.
Medical experts believe that both doctors and patients need to learn to respect each other’s boundaries. Patients should understand that the doctor’s home is not their professional space. The home has neither the right medical equipment, nor nurses or support staff, nor the means to deal with any unexpected danger. In such a situation, treatment at home can be risky for the doctor from legal and safety point of view.
It is very important to understand the difference between emergency situation and normal checkup.
The most important aspect of this entire debate is that common citizens should be well aware of the difference between ‘medical emergency’ and ‘routine checkup’.
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Emergency: If a person suddenly has conditions like severe chest pain, seizures, unconsciousness, severe accidental bleeding, shortness of breath or sudden severe allergy, then it is an emergency. In such a situation, one can approach the nearest doctor for first aid or immediately call an ambulance and go to the emergency hospital.
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General or chronic illness (Non-Emergency): If someone has mild fever, ringworm, itching, mild stomach pain or has to show a routine report for the last 2-4 days, then under no circumstances should this be an excuse to visit the doctor’s house at night. For such problems, one should wait for the scheduled OPD hours of the clinic only.
What are the legal and ethical aspects? Important lessons for patients
As per Medical Council rules, every registered doctor is obliged to attend to patients in his clinic or hospital during duty hours. However, a doctor is not obliged to treat non-emergency patients without an appointment at his private residence unless the matter is of life-or-death importance. 24-hour emergency services have been started in hospitals so that proper first aid, monitoring and oxygen/medicines can be provided immediately to the patients coming at night.
This viral post is a big mirror for the society. It teaches us that respecting health services does not just mean giving the doctor the status of God, but it is equally important to respect his personal life, his family and his privacy. If patients and the general public understand this civil courtesy, then this strained relationship between doctor and patient can once again be brought back to the level of trust and respect.