YES

Integral part

Communication is an integral part of the medical profession, and doctors need to know how to deliver any news in a proper, decent and a sensitive manner, to avoid recurrence of incidents such as the recent one at NRS Medical College, Calcutta, and also to ensure their own safety.

Purna Dutta,
South Point High School, Calcutta

Reduces problems

Half the healing is done if a doctor can explain to the patient his illness, the remedies, the medication and put his worries to rest. Effective communication reduces chances of misunderstanding and charges of negligence. Therefore, doctors must learn to communicate effectively with patients and their families.

Indrani Saha,
Jagannath Gupta Institute of Medical Sciences, Calcutta

Helps recovery

Yes, doctors must learn to communicate effectively. The human mind is not satisfied if it doesn’t get proper answers to all queries, especially when the conversation is about health. Effective communication not only satisfies patients but may also aid recovery.

Ritika Bhakat,
Patha Bhavan, Calcutta

NO

Hire personnel

Doctors have a hectic time checking several patients daily and hence cannot always focus on communicating with the patients’ relatives. The problem can be sorted out by appointing trained personnel who can convey the doctors' messages to the patient party effectively.

Prantika Bhowmick,
Patha Bhavan, Calcutta

Just prescribe

A doctor’s job is to look after us when we are sick or take care of us if we need a surgery. Where does communication, effective or otherwise, come in? All that she or he needs to do by way of communicating with a patient is to write down a prescription with all the necessary medication after detecting the problem.

Anuron Mullik,
Narula Institute of Technology, Calcutta