Practicing Community Medicine?

Practicing Community Medicine? It is surprising to know that even in major cities, patients prefer to go to doctors belonging to their own caste. Casteism is the boon or bane of Hinduism. But to extend it to Medical Care is sheer lack of common sense. And to learn that this is actively encouraged by some doctors is highly unfortunate. It came as a shock to learn that there is a community based doctor’s association in our own town of Rajahmundry. It is okay to confine oneself to his/her caste in aspects like marriage. But to extend the same to professional relationships is downright unethical. It is definitely not in the best interests of the patient. When referring a case to another doctor, the qualifications, experience and merit of the specialist should be taken into consideration and the referral should not be definitely based on caste! Unfortunately in India, the ground-level as well as political thinking is always community based. We cannot expect the centuries old Caste system to disappear completely overnight. But I don’t understand why doctors should fall into the “caste trap” and follow such inexemplary practices. After all the Medical Profession is a big community by itself!