It is a strange thing. The tendency to put someone in a box based on a label or a job description, even a nationality…

The tendency to judge and make decisions about their character, their integrity, their incentives, their work ethic.

I guess we do it because we have been hurt from personal experience. Or because media tells us too. Or because we just don’t know any better.

It hurts. I have been hurt. I have been judged. I have been excluded. I have had to “prove myself”, my motives.

I have been lumped …. “I hate doctors”. “Doctor’s have such big egos.” “Doing it for the money.”

Well. There is a lot you may not know.

And I will share with you because there may be a lot behind the lives of every health care professional that we may not know.

(Same goes for everything really, I guess?)

I left medicine several times. After working my butt off twice to re-enter into medical school. (I never got in straight away after school.)

I almost left several times more to become a midwife.

As soon as I was freed from the required government medical service I apprenticed with a homebirth gentle midwife.

I had my own homebirth while I was a medical student and continued to breastfeed for 3 years while studying.

And I swore that no money in the world was worth being separated from my family for such ridiculous hours – and I live to that statement.

I was ridiculed by an anaesthetic registrar for questioning about obstetric anaesthesia practices, for being a second late to theatre, for what I had in my vegetarian lunch.

I was called a “dumb idiot” post call by an obsetric head of department.

I was judged because I was introduced as a doctor and that put a stigma on my approach at births. I was expected to behave in certain ways and had to prove myself in certain circles.

I have cried and still cry in almost every single birth I attend. 

I have seen many deaths and dying people. 

I have prayed to Jesus and Krishna with other doctors. 

From the start I have challenged the ethics of medicine. 

I arranged meetings with the head of Obstetrics and handed them a list of names and abuses I have witnessed in the labour wards. 

There is loads more I have joyed, challenged, cried, laughed, continued with other doctors, patients, people…that many people will never know. 

My point is – We can never know, so let’s not judge.

I like being Dr Gauri – I worked over a decade to qualify and offer the now wide range of services (natural and medical).

But more important is to let go of the title and be authentic and me.

I understand the medical world and I understand the alternative. I am bilingual. But my practices are authentic and heartled.

Free yourself from the box labels! You may be surprised!


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3 Comments

  1. LOVE! We are so much more than just a label. From what I’ve seen of you in various Fb groups over the years, you are an amazing person and I love that you are busy changing stereotypes in the medical field. I like to feel that I’m challenging stereotypes in my own way in my own field (finance) too. Let’s throw those boxes out!

  2. Many healers go into medicine and midwifery. The abuses are real. I witnessed a lot as a student midwife too, still do…it has helped me speak out more about injustice. People are really scared & often practice medicine from this place. Takes a lot to be willing to stay true to your ideals & still participate within the system to help more people.

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