WHY DOCTORS SHOULD WRITE?

Dr.T.V.Rao MD
My great inspiration to read and write was initiated by Professor Dr B M Hedge, former vice
chancellor of Manipal University Manipal, India through his life experiences in Medical profession as
realities are facts than what we read in the books, and a great Novel of the yesteryears OF HUMAN
BONDAGE BY SOMERSET MAUGHAM. I just tells me how a composed mind a Doctor can be a great
writer who inspired millions of people in the world. As profession, physicians and Teachers are a
remarkable group of writers. What doctors lack in good penmanship is more than compensated for
by their skill in penning stories and poems? We have a long years learning and more years fighting to
survive, A stressful environment of long hours, a work requiring years of training and more and more
specializationthese things, too can cramp ones ability to truly listen, observe, and communicate
the human experience. Which is an artists task and can be human task. A difficult task, whichever
way you look at it. Writing allows physicians an opportunity to memorialize patients and colleagues.
Why Doctors to write in spite of hectic life, the short answer is that doctors write for many of the
same reasons that non-physicians do: They feel compelled to write. They have something to say.
They love words and language. They are excited by the process and gratified by the result. They are
inspired. I always think Doctors should be writer as they are certainly privileged people the society
listens to them, Doctors are a class of people, a professional elite. While they have a hectic job, full
of stress and unpredictable schedules, they are also economically stable, relatively speaking.
Creative writing can immortalize someone. Their literary accomplishments are even more impressive
given a lack of formal training in the art of writing. There is an elite roster of physician-writers for
readers to drool over. Anton Chekhov, John Keats, Arthur Conan Doyle, William Carlos Williams, A.J.
Cronin, W. Somerset Maugham, and Mikhail Bulgakov are a few names that immediately come to
any reading mind. There are also many recognizable physician-writers including Michael Crichton,
Robin Cook, and Frank Slaughter who may not get the love (critical acclaim) but certainly get the
money (commercial success). There is a sizable but unquantifiable group of practicing physicians
who engage in creative writing without fanfare. These doctors take their writing seriously whether
they consider it a hobby, diversion, or passion. I estimate that as many as 4-7 percent of all
practicing physicians in the United States are currently working on a poem, story, or novel. Doctors
and Teachers become talented writers the old-fashioned way. They practice. They also teach
themselves via voracious reading with attention to style and technique. They occasionally attend
writing workshops.
Doctors spend a good chunk of their professional lives listening to stories. It's only natural that
doctors would retell versions of these tales or craft their own new ones. Physicians regularly observe
cures, acts of heroism, and even miracles. Writers refer to it as denouement. Doctor-writers have
oodles of experience to tap from. They have a rich pipeline of poignant and clinical images,
unforgettable language, colourful characters, and vexing irony in any single day. In addition,
physicians get plenty of practice writing and editing office notes, consultations, and histories &
physicals. Today life is enriched with ideas of sharing as - Doctors can pass along knowledge and
experience by writing in clever and vivid ways. Humor and compassion as told by P G Wood House,
provoke memorable moments in literature. A perfect example is The House of God by Samuel Shem.
Today it is much easier to communicate our even short ideas with many through social media many
people share the ideas on many impossible things they have achieved through sharing and inspires
many of the younger generations in the world to make a better progress of the profession, It is true
Nurses know the more realities of the Profession than many Doctors who practice without a heart.

Nurses too can contribute - Nursing has often drawn people from working class
backgrounds; nursing education includes people with associate degrees without a broader liberal
arts background. However, there are powerful stories in nursing as well even the Doctors get
inspired.
Today medicine is just another profession, and doctors have become like everybody else: insecure,
discontented and anxious about the future. In surveys, a majority of doctors express diminished
enthusiasm for medicine and say they would discourage a friend or family member from entering
the profession. In spite of many struggles when many younger generation are mad to join the
profession as easier means to thrive in the society and make tons of Money, however few young
reads the realities of Medical profession to wake to the new realities of the profession before they
chose to become Doctors The British Medical journal advices the youth to write as a newly qualified
doctor, you are likely to spend a lot of time with patients. Why not start by keeping an eye out for
interesting cases, images, or situations where you have learned a lot? One of these could prompt
you to write a case report, based on an unusual case or to remind others of an important message.
Alternatively you might have an idea for an education article these are usually based on more
common or typical situations and presentations. If you have not written before, consider working
with a peer or senior colleague who is familiar with how to write this type of article. A doctor is a
detective, too. A doctor tries to make a diagnosis or sort out some other problem, and a
connection can seem just as revelatory or inspirational. Maybe Im biased, but I think that primary
care providers get more chances at such moments. Never forget life is story to tell to many the
Doctor are best people to tell the world the realities of human suffering through, birth and death.
Never forget the Society in ignorance thinks Doctors are the most privileged people they enjoy the
fortune however few know the realities I think we are the best to communicate the realties to life
death and human concern,
I FIND THAT COMMUNICATING OUR MIND TO WORLD OF MEDICAL PROFESSION THROUGH OUR
ETHICAL AND PROFESSION MAKES A GREAT DIFFERENCE TO THE PURPOSE WE LIVE AS MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS
Ref 1 Seven reasons Doctors write literature, Arts and Medicine blog
2 Guidance for newly qualified doctors to get published BMJ publication

Dr.T.V.Rao MD Professor of Microbiology Freelance writer