My Doctors' Review

I recently had a major surgery. When we were trying to find a doctor for me, we also looked up on the Internet to find information on doctors. There was perfect information on the qualifications of the doctors but very little information was available on their approach, their integrity and their knowledge. There were a few reviews on different platforms but often they were negatively inclined reviews. They were outbursts of anger and frustration with the doctors who had not been good. So I decided to write down this blog and give out information about the helpful and good doctors who have treated me at various points in my life.

 

I am deliberately leaving out the doctors with whom I have had negative and unhappy experiences because I want this page to be a page of positive information for anyone who may need it. Also because, eventually, we all have our own experiences.

 

Before I begin to write about the doctors review individually, I would like to mention a few things that are actually common to all these doctors and are the main reasons why I like them:

1. They are all knowledgeable in their fields.
2. They are all good human beings. For me this has always been the most important thing I look for in a doctor. I believe that no matter how good your qualifications or knowledge or experience, but if you are not a good person, you are nothing.
3. They are all simple persons. There is so façade to any of them. No showing off. No airs.
4. They are all good listeners. An important trait in a good doctor, I think.

 

Dr Madhav Tembe – General Physician – Clinic at Mahim, Mumbai

Dr Madhav Tembe embodies all the good qualities that you may want in a doctor. He is our family doctor and we have gone to him for a very long time now. He is simple, knowledgeable, humble and experienced. He listens patiently and has a knack for correct diagnosis. He also guides patients to right doctors when need be. I have had two surgeries. In both the cases, my surgeons were excellent in every way. And both of them were suggested by Dr Tembe.

 

Dr Ashwini Wagh – General Surgeon – Clinic at Mahim and associated with S.L. Raheja (Fortis) hospital, Asha Parekh hospital and Sushrusha hospital

My first surgery was a haemorrhoidectomy. The physical examination for piles may leave a patient feeling that her privacy has been intruded. That is what I felt with two doctors I had seen long time back, before Dr Ashwini Wagh. That is why I preferred a lady doctor for the surgery and Dr Tembe suggested Dr Ashwini Wagh’s name. Dr Wagh’s examination was respectful and gentle. She gave me proper time and answered my questions to my satisfaction. She did the post-op examinations properly and gave me the same unbroken attention through the long recuperating period.

 

Dr Hemant Tongaonkar – Gynaecologist-Oncologist & Urologist – Associated with Hinduja hospital and Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai

My second surgery was done just a month and a half back, for a lump found on my right ovary that seemed to be a cancerous tumour. I went to Dr Hemant Tongaonkar when Dr Tembe asked me to see him immediately. Dr Tongaonkar is a very knowledgeable doctor and the best in his field. Our appointment was at 10:30am but on the last minute the doctor had to go for an emergency operation. So the appointment was rescheduled at 2:30pm. He finally saw me at 4:00pm. I thought that now he would be too tired and too tied up to give me proper attention. I was completely wrong. He apologised for the delay, saw my reports, reading all of them, asked me questions and heard me patiently. When he spoke after physically examining me, he did not beat around the bush. He spoke precisely, to the point and explained my situation to me. I asked him questions, all the questions that I had and he answered all of them. He was objective, as a doctor should be and yet he was considerate and fully aware of my fears and concerns. Later my biopsy stated that the lump was benign and was an endometriotic cyst. With his vast knowledge and experience, Dr Tongaonkar may have suspected that there was a slim chance that the lump was not malignant and therefore he wanted to wait for the final biopsy report. He is not a doctor who will lie to you. In case your situation is grim he will say so but he will also know what to do.

 

Dr Devyani Mahajan – Assistant Doctor to Dr Hemant Tongaonkar at Hinduja hospital

Dr Devyani Mahajan is Dr Tongaonkar’s assistant at present. I had a vertical incision for my surgery and Dr Mahajan gave me the stitches. She also changed my dressings. She has a good ‘hand’. I used to ask her all types of questions about my recovery and she used to answer all of them. She is a hardworking, sincere doctor and like Dr Tongaonkar, is attentive and nice to the patients.

 

Dr Sheetal Vedak – Homeopath – Clinic at Goregaon West, Mumbai

There are homeopaths and then there is Dr Sheetal Vedak. Homeopathy diagnosis has a different approach compared to allopathy and Dr Vedak is different still. I used to go to her despite her being on the other end of the city from my place. One visit to her place meant crossing the whole of Mumbai but every visit was worth it. Dr Vedak asks the right questions in the right direction. She has a keen sense of the underlying emotional causes for illness. Besides homeopathy, Dr Vedak has knowledge of many other forms of alternative medicine which she uses to help understand the illness and patients better.

  

That is my list of doctors. Since I belong to Mumbai, all doctors mentioned here are from the city. But I intend this page to be of use for anyone who is looking for or willing to provide information on good doctors anywhere in India. Please feel free to share such information in the comments section.