Doctors’ Pride and Ethics: Time to Introspect

A doctor’s role in society is unique. Over years, medical science has advanced; publics’ expectations have changed; recentpandemic challenged it. Doctors’ face is blemished by accusations. An online survey was done to analyze the change in theattitude and respect of the public towards doctors. For this a questionnaire was forwarded through WhatsApp contacts.Data was extracted to an excel sheet and analyzed. The cohort (n = 328) included both doctors (34.1%) and non-doctors(65.9%). Non-doctors comprised of the general public (47.3%) and people who worked with doctors (18.6%). Overall, 93.3%of those surveyed agreed that “doctors deserve respect”. More doctors (89.3%) as compared to non-doctors (39.4%) (p < 0.001)perceived a reduction in respect towards doctors. On an objective scale (0-10), respect had reduced from an average of8.55 to 6.76 over 10 years; doctors felt steeper reduction (8.68 to 5.42 [p < 0.05] than non-doctors [8.48 to 7.46 [p < 0.05]).Among doctors, 64.3% opined that “doctors’ profession should be considered as service”, while 49.1% agreed that “doctors’profession can be a business model”. A portion of the public, agreed that medications (61.3%) and investigations (56.1%)were prescribed/advised only when necessary. An important reason for reduction in respect was the perception that the“medical profession is run as a business model” (16.8%). Respondents other than doctors, when given an opportunity,wanted to practice ethically (19.4%).