Dr Debraj Shome on Healing the Doctor-Patient Trust Deficit Through Stories

Saurabh Tankha

Over decades, we have seen them scribbling prescriptions in illegible handwriting. So when the two authors of Dear People, With Love and Care, Your Doctors (Bloomsbury India), Dr Debraj Shome and Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker, expressed themselves in as many words as they did for this interview with www.lifeandmore.in, it could only lead us to one solution. Carry the interview in two parts. The only plus, they punched in their replies on a computer, thus it was legible.

Here, we present Part I of two-part series, an interview with Dr Shome who tells us that the book is a collection of heartfelt stories by doctors and patients from across the world. It provides a deep insight into the Indian healthcare system and gives a sneak peek into the world of medicine but inspires to retain faith in the relationship of a doctor and patient.

The book, through inspiring stories from the diaries of 30 doctors and five patients, aims to bring back the focus on the unshakeable foundation of doctor-patient relationship.

Dr Shome super-specialises in plastic, cosmetic, facial plastic and facial cosmetic surgery. He practices at some of the top hospitals in Mumbai and is the director of the Esthetic Clinics, a chain of clinics in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Delhi and Bengaluru. Excerpts from the interview…

When did you decide to collect these stories?

Over the years, trust between doctors and patients has steadily declined, even though trust remains central to effective healthcare. In today’s digital age, easy access to online information often creates confusion, as medicine is far too complex for one-size-fits-all solutions.

Every patient is unique, and despite remarkable medical advances, not everything can be guaranteed or fully understood. This book was created to bridge that gap by sharing real stories from doctors and patients, offering insight into their challenges, emotions, and experiences to foster greater empathy and understanding.

How did you go about choosing the doctors you wanted to include in the book?

We wanted stories from different facets and therefore, it was important to choose the doctors carefully. So, we tried to get a flavour of the different aspects of the doctor-patient relationship. We chose our authors very carefully on the basis of the stories that they would write in this book. The process took six months to a year.

Why in your opinion, has the sacred relationship between a doctor and patient “suffering from an erosion of faith”?

Doctors reflect the same societal challenges as everyone else. While there are a few bad examples in medicine, it is unfair to generalise an entire profession. The real issues in Indian healthcare stem from systemic gaps—low public healthcare spending, limited medical seats, expensive private education, and policy shortcomings.

Doctors often have little control over these larger structural problems and are themselves affected by them. Strengthening healthcare requires thoughtful reforms, better government support, and policies that prioritise both patients and medical professionals.

How, in your opinion, can this distance be bridged?

Conversations are important and understanding the other side of the picture is very important. Communication is all about making sure that other people understand what we are trying to say and what we feel.

And this book is a step in the right direction we feel. A book where doctors and patients have written about their experiences gives people a greater understanding of doctor-patient relationship. It can rekindle trust between the two parties. Essentially, doctors and patients are two sides of the same coin.

Interview with Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker tomorrow
The cartoons, sourced from Internet, have been used to provide comic relief