The Doctor Gene

About the Book

What should a Doctor be? A tribute to the medical profession, The Doctor Gene offers a collection of stories from the journey of the author, Dr. Rajas Deshpande, pursuing his medical career from deep inside rural India, all the way to an advanced Canadian university. In this heartfelt memoir, Deshpande narrates the inside story- what a doctor thinks and feels when interacting with a wide range of patients, the thrills of saving lives, and solving health puzzles every day. He also untangles the intricate mysteries of both the positive and the dark sides of human behaviour encountered while treating patients and interacting with their families. From strokes, epilepsy, and dementia, to AIDS, heart disease, and suicide, The Doctor Gene talks about situations from a patient’s as well as a doctor’s point of view. While still genuinely caring for the patient, today’s doctor finds it difficult to interact naturally and make decisions- simple and critical- under the perpetual shadow of medico-legal threats. Deshpande also addresses many such issues faced by the medical world, discussing their possible solutions. The Doctor Gene provides a deep insight into the noble medical profession, highlights the immense importance of a healthy doctor-patient relationship, and confesses how some patients teach doctors about life, love, and sacrifice.

About the Author

Dr. Rajas Deshpande completed post-doctoral fellowships in Neurology in 2005 and is now the Director of Neurology at the Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune, India. He is associated with many social causes including free medical education, and has been crusading to improve the doctor-patient relationship and communication.