Sick or not, dignity matters!
It seems that the concept of privacy, particularly in healthcare, remains an elusive ideal in Sri Lankan hospitals. Whether it’s in government-run facilities or private institutions, patients are often stripped not only of their dignity but also their right to basic respect. Nurses shout out diagnoses across wards, robbing patients of any sense of confidentiality, while groups of medical students descend like an army to learn at the expense of an individual’s comfort. Yes, medical education is important, but surely it doesn’t hurt to ask for consent first? The sea of white coats surrounding a patient might be seen as a rite of passage for future doctors, but for some, it is a dehumanising experience.
