WHAT WILL THE DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP BE LIKE IN 2028?

While telemedicine may take centre stage in the near futute, recommending cutting-edge, technologically-advanced treatment alone, in a teleconsult, is insufficient: a patient's goals and requirements also need to be factored in

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1968: I entered Medical School 57 years ago. Trained in the BC era, my generation today, belongs to the Neanderthal Age. I injected air into the brain, and dye directly into a major artery going into the brain. Displacement of normal anatomical structures was a surrogate marker for a possible brain tumour. Getting the patient's consent for surgery was a one-sided conversation. No questions were asked. Such was the faith and trust reposed in the surgeon. The role of patient and family in the decision-making process was minimal. We could not share our responsibility with anyone. We were both Amicus Curae and Devil's Advocate rolled into one. We entered the brains of our patients, even before surgery, trying to understand what he/she and their families would want, and took a surrogate decision on their behalf, in their interests. It was a one-to-one personal relationship between a patient and a doctor, involving primarily,

diagnosis and treatment. I am not sure if today's medical students are reminded of Sir William Osler's observations 150 years ago “--- the good physician treats the disease, the great physician treats the patient who has the disease,” and “Listen, listen, listenhe is telling you the diagnosis”. Will such doctor-patient relationships become history?