Dr Dilip Thakar says Thought process on the table, before surgery gives better results

By Vikas Vaidya

He had his schooling in Nagpur. He chose USA as his working place as he feels that it’s a land of opportunities, the people there are gentlemen, there is work culture. Now 23 years have been passed for his stay in USA. His father Ramchandra Thakar was his guiding force, whose passionate work inspired him to become a doctor. His father was a wonderful human being and his goodness reflects in the body language of his equally great doctor son.
Dr Dilip Thakar, a world renowned Anaesthesiologist is in the city. He spoke to The Hitavada on various issues related to medical profession involving emotions, care, documentation, communication between doctor and patients.
“My father was a wonderful human being. He always treated his patients with sense of commitment. He did his job on the humanitarian ground. I saw him working with full force. It made me feel that I too should become a doctor,” said Dr Dilip Thakar.
Dr Thakar did his MBBS from Raipur’s Government Science College and Post Graduation from Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College. Why he chose Anaesthesia branch. According to him, this sector of medical sciences plays an important role in saving patient. He did some course in critical care too.
“I primarily called myself as Anaesthesiologist. Every patient should know his or her anaesthesiologist. In USA, there are separate Anaesthesiologist for different kind of surgeries. For example, orthopaedic surgery, gynaecology, paediatrics etc. Every speciality has specially trained anaesthesiologist. I am an Anaesthesiologist for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. What is the experience of Anaesthesiologist, in how many surgeries he had participated, whether he is expert in that particular type of surgery, etc. These things are to be checked either by patients or their relatives,” said Dr Thakar.
In USA, the thought process in team before the surgery is involved. The team includes doctors, nurse, attendents. They come together, talk to each other, discuss how to go for the surgery and then actually the procedure begins. This pre-surgery discussion helps to chalk out a plan which gives better results.
In India the violence against doctors is on rise. This is not the case in USA. Reason? “The communication is a part of our healthcare system. We communicate with the patients. We make them aware about their diseases, their details, the treatment, the risk, the complications etc. We make documentation and give it to the patients. This documentation is not merely a procedural part. It does involve an emotion,” informed Dr Thakar.
Where India differs with USA in medical treatment? “I can not use word difference. Because the condition during my time in India was different. The communication part then was absent but now as I havent visited any medical school in India I cant differentiate. But in USA, as and when student enters into medical school, he or she has to do the study which is research-based which makes a difference. I only can suggest that in India the bar is to be raised with regards to education, quality of healthcare, bar on knowledge etc,” suggested Dr Thakar
No single day passes when Dr Thakar think of India. The thought that he wanted to do something for India haunts him many times. Though he has got citizenship of USA and he doesnot want to come back to India, he still think of doing something proper for India.