HYDERABAD: Being in an emergency profession, doctors do not have stipulated work timings and there are times when they do not go home for three to four-days. Specialists who perform high risk surgeries said that sometimes, they carry home the stress and tension that they experience during surgeries and treatment which effects relationship with families.
On National Doctors Day celebrated on Sunday, medical specialists said that those who work in Intensive Care Units (ICU) are under extreme stress as lives are at stake every second.
“A lot of parameters needs to be observed every minute. Doctors work for 14 or more hours a day. In some specialities such as Oncology and Liver transplantation, surgeries last for 10 to 14-hours. They work under extreme pressure,” said Dr Mohan Gupta, president elect, Indian Medical Association-Hyderabad branch.
Depending on expertise, years of experience, success rate in treatment, doctors are paid high salaries which can go up to `1.2 crore per annum. But specialists said it is uncommon and comes at great cost. A surgical gastroenterologist, Dr CH Madhusudhan said that liver transplantations, surgeries related to cancer are stressful and affects health and lives of doctors and their families. “There will be times when we don’t go home for three to four-days,” Dr Madhusudhan said.