Doctors vs Nurses

"Committee appointed to look into Surgeon-nurse dispute"

ran a headline in our Wednesday's edition. According to the
news item, there had been a clash between a Consultant
Surgeon and a nurse at the Colombo National Hospital
which crippled the Hospital's services.

No amount of persuasion by the Hospital authorities to bury

the hatchet yielded results with both parties sticking to their
guns even refusing a compromise formula for a settlement
suggested by the authorities.
What of the patients ? According to the report, they were
reduced to mere bystanders of this scene which caused the
breakdown of services including the cancellation of
operations and paralysis of other vital functions.
Which brings us to the question of present day role of
doctors, nurses and hospital staff. Time was when a doctor
evoked admiration and respect among the patients and
public among whom he had an unquestionable standing.
The Hippocratic Oath by the doctors was taken as an article
of faith by the public and so was the Nightingale Oath of the
nursing fraternity.
However, the recent incidents involving both these groups
have eroded public esteem towards them. Tuesday's
incident at the Colombo National Hospital is just one of the
many such occurrences one often comes across in daily
newspapers.
Nowadays one hears of instances where patients turn their
wrath on doctors and hospital staff over some dereliction of
duty or neglect. But a doctor-nurse spat is a novelty which
does not augur well for the health sector.
Old timers would recall with nostalgia the days when Government doctors displayed
a compassionate nature towards their patients. They would remember the healing

touch and the benevolent smile that brought confidence to a stricken individual.
They cannot also forget the discipline and devotion to duty of our Nightingales which
went a long way towards accelerating the healing process. Not that we lack medicos
with the humane touch today. Nor is there a dearth of nurses whose hearts overflow
with the milk of human kindness.
But there is a growing perception that mammon holds sway even in this vital sector
as in the case of other State institutions. A new militancy on the part of both
doctors and nurses to highlight their grievances and win demands have also
alienated them from the public.

Conciliatory efforts should be made between all parties

involved to end the fractious relationship and bring back the
medical profession to its former glory where doctors, nurses
and medical staff worked collectively in harmony for the
good of the patients in their care.