Mistaken Identity

A couple of days back I came across a patient who because of some misunderstood and misinformative content on website decided to be operated by a different doctor in the same institute. Such loss of trust and rejection by the patient on the basis of something read on a website which I wasn’t even aware of surprised, shocked and hurt me. I google searched my own name and came across a document which I presumed was read by the above mentioned patient. The content of the document (http://www.gmc-uk.org/static/documents/content/Sengupta_(MP)_-_PUBLISHABLE_Mintues_-_16-24_Feb_10.pdf) seemed to indicate that a particular namesake doctor practising in UK has been implicated in a fitness to practice case. I would like to clarify that it is a mere case of namesake identity crisis as there are many Rinku Senguptas in different professions and except for sharing the similar phonetic name I have nothing in common with them. I feel that a similar misunderstanding could have happened to various other patients and could repeat itself in the future. As often happens to a sensitive doctor caught in the modern day myriad of increasingly commercialised medical practice one comes across some disconcerting harsh realities, difficult to face, tough to accept and hardest to convey. With a feeling of being choked, muted and stunned and in an attempt to clarify my position and disseminate my side of the story I conceived the idea of initiating this blog. I reiterate that I have never been trained or practiced in UK and am working in Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research, Delhi since May 2002. Since 2022 April I am working in Madhukar Rainbow Hospital Malviya Nagar Delhi