Report: Mahabharatham Practicing Medico

The Lesson:

The Modern Kurukshetra: Lessons from the Mahabharata for the Practicing Medico

chose to be blind to the faults of her children. In medicine, "blindfolds" come in the form of cognitive biases—anchoring to a first impression or ignoring symptoms that don't fit our preferred diagnosis. The epic warns us that voluntary blindness, even if born out of "loyalty" to a theory, leads to catastrophe. The Final Ascent

The Mahabharatham emphasizes the importance of medical ethics and patient care. The epic describes the qualities of a good physician, including compassion, empathy, and dedication to patient care. The story of Dhanvantari, the legendary physician who is said to have emerged from the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), exemplifies the ideals of medical excellence and patient care.