Dr KK Aggarwal
A 30-year-old resident doctor of Safdarjung Hospital here
was found dead on Tuesday morning in his room at a rented accommodation in
southeast Delhi's Lajpat Nagar area, police said, as reported in Times of
India. He was found lying on a mattress with an intravenous drip in his arm.
The victim was rushed to a hospital, where he was declared brought dead. He was
pursuing a post-graduation in anesthesia from Safdarjung Hospital.
Doctors have the highest suicide rate among all the
professions. Suicides among doctors are increasing at an alarming rate in
India. Doctors are about 1.87 times more likely to commit suicide compared to
those in other areas of work. This is indicative of the rising levels of
frustration and stress among doctors.
Several factors have been cited as reasons for this -
unregulated duty hours, punishing work load, poor working and living
conditions. Last month, resident doctors across India joined hands to start a
unique campaign called – “I am overworked” to highlight these very issues.
Doctors face media trial for any medical error that may
have occurred, even though inadvertently. As a result, they continue to suffer
the ignominy or personal public humiliation in silence, sometimes for the rest
of their lives.
In the last two days, we have discussed what our ancient
texts have to say about suicidal ideation.
Sri Ramcharitmanas has described 14 traits, which if
present, makes a person like dead even if he or she is alive in the Angad-Ravan
conversation (samvad).
These 14 traits or the types of indirect death are: Vama
Margi (Kaul or the one who follows the path of tantra); Kamuk (full of
Vasanas]; Krapan (Maha Kanjoos); Vimud (Murkha); Dradra (poor); Ajasi
(Badnami); old (no intellect left); ever sick; Santata Krodhi (always
angry); Vishnu Vimukh (abuses Vishnu); Shrutu and Sant Virodhi (opposes Vedas);
Tanu Poshak (Swartha) and adh Khani (the one who earns by sins)
जौं अस करौं तदपि न बड़ाई।
मुएहि बधें नहिं कछु मनुसाई॥
कौल कामबस कृपिन बिमूढ़ा।
अति दरिद्र अजसी अति बूढ़ा॥1॥
भावार्थ:- यदि ऐसा करूँ, तो भी इसमें कोई बड़ाई नहीं है। मरे हुए को मारने में कुछ भी पुरुषत्व (बहादुरी) नहीं है। वाममार्गी, कामी, कंजूस, अत्यंत मूढ़, अति दरिद्र, बदनाम, बहुत बूढ़ा,॥1॥
In Vidura Niti, a dialogue (samvad) between Vidura and
Dhritarashtra enlightens us on the reasons for insomnia or sleeplessness.
King Dhritarashtra said: “O Vidura, Sanjaya has
come back. He has gone away after rebuking me. Tomorrow he will deliver, in the
midst of the court, Ajatashatru’s message. I have not been able today to
ascertain what the message is of the Kuru hero. Therefore, my body is
burning, and that has produced sleeplessness. Tell us what may
be good for a person that is sleepless and burning.”
“My body is burning, and that has produced
sleeplessness”; this statement is a classical depiction of the
state of anxiety and stress and sleeplessness arising out of it.
Vidura then goes on to enumerate the five basic
reasons for insomnia. He said: “Sleeplessness overtakes thief, a
lustful person, him that has lost all his wealth, him that has failed to
achieve success, and him also that is weak and has been attacked by a strong
person.”
According to Chapter 2 of the Bhagawad Gita,
non-fulfillment of desire leads to anger, which can be 'anger in' (suppressive)
or 'anger out'(expressive). Both are dangerous. 'Anger out' leads to aggression
and 'anger in' leads to suppression of emotions; if not expressed or managed,
then ‘anger-in’ leads to depression, anxiety, feelings of despondency, guilt
and then to suicidal ideation.
Of the various reasons enumerated above, the following
factors come to light concerning suicides among doctors. They are: dishonor or
public humiliation due to any allegation, failure to achieve success or a
person who is weak and has been attacked by a strong person.
Suicide among doctors has become a public health crisis
and needs urgent attention to manage it.
The concerns and apprehensions of students and healthcare
professionals alike should be addressed. The signs of depression and suicidal
ideation should be detected right in the early stages, if suicides are to be
prevented.
Dr KK Aggarwal
Padma Shri Awardee
President Elect Confederation of
Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania
(CMAAO)
Group Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications
President Heart Care Foundation of
India
Past National President
IMA
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