CJI: Empathy and ethics are the basis of medical jobs
Chandigarh: It was an emotional moment for Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud to visit the PGI campus today. His daughter Priyanka, a child with special needs, was admitted to the institute after she developed breathing problems while the family was in Shimla on vacations in 2021. She was kept in the Critical Care Unit (CCU) for 44 days and the CJI would visit her on weekends. While his wife stayed with the child throughout the duration of her treatment, the CJI would spend hours in the corridors of PGI and interact with young doctors. Little did he know then that he would be handing over degrees to graduates on the campus.
The CJI narrated his experience while addressing the gathering at the 37th convocation of PGI, which he attended as the chief guest. “I remember a woman police officer said to me…yahan jo bhi aata hai, hans kar jaata hai. These lines were enough to soothe our hearts. As a parent, it is not easy to sit outside the CCU when your child is struggling,” he said. “I remember Professor GD Puri, who would be present in the CCU even at 3 am. He would also respond to my phone calls within 10 seconds. The positive qualities of Professor Vivek Lal (who is the current PGI director) are still etched in my memory. Young doctors become friends and long discussions about their careers become part of my routine on weekends. I never thought I would be handing over degrees to young graduates today, but I am very happy to be here. This institute holds a special place for me and my family,” he said.
After awarding the toppers, graduates and postgraduates, the CJI advised young doctors to pursue their medical careers in empathy and ethics. “Empathy and ethics are not just abstract concepts, they are the basis of your medical journey,” he said, adding, “When you step into the world as healthcare professionals, remember that your technical skills are only one part of the equation. It is your compassion, your ability to listen and your unwavering commitment to ethical practices that will truly define your success and impact on the lives of your patients.” The CJI gave a humorous example from the Bollywood film “Munnabhai MBBS” to highlight the importance of compassion. “Drawing similarities between medicine and law, the CJI said both professions are guided by principles such as beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy and justice. He underlined that these fields share a common goal, which is to serve humanity with compassion and integrity.
“The journey as medical professionals is not just about healing the body, but it is also about uplifting the soul and ensuring justice in healthcare,” he said. He also emphasised that technology has the power to revolutionise medicine, but it must be guided by compassion and equality. The CJI said the language used in courts is English, but to make it easier for common people to understand their cases, judgments are being translated into regional languages with the help of Artificial Intelligence. Nearly 37,000 judgments have been delivered from 1950 to 2024. A total of 22,000 judgments have been translated into Punjabi and 36,000 into Hindi.
508 awarded degrees
A total of 80 graduates of various medical disciplines were awarded medals for their academic distinction and 508 graduates were awarded degrees in various disciplines including MD/MS, DM/MCh and PhD courses.
