Patients-not just Images
Devoted to Education and Practice in Patient-centered Radiology
Chairman's Corner
Chairman's Corner
We are giving too much away...
We are giving too much away...
Ravi Ramakantan
Ravi Ramakantan
“I think we should add this case up on the “Interventional Case records” section of the KEM website; - the images are beautiful.. I’ve never seen anything like this before” I said to one of my colleagues who with a little bit of prodding, diligently and periodically gives me cases to put up on the internet. A hesitant nod of the head rather than an enthusiastic “Yes, Sir!” somewhat surprised me. And even as I was wondering why, one other faculty who was standing by said-
“I think we should add this case up on the “Interventional Case records” section of the KEM website; - the images are beautiful.. I’ve never seen anything like this before” I said to one of my colleagues who with a little bit of prodding, diligently and periodically gives me cases to put up on the internet. A hesitant nod of the head rather than an enthusiastic “Yes, Sir!” somewhat surprised me. And even as I was wondering why, one other faculty who was standing by said-
“But, I think, we are giving too much away..”
“But, I think, we are giving too much away..”
Startled I said “Come again”
Startled I said “Come again”
“You know” he elaborated “by putting these cases up on the net, we are giving away all our good interventional cases”
“You know” he elaborated “by putting these cases up on the net, we are giving away all our good interventional cases”
The full impact of what he said then dawned on me.
The full impact of what he said then dawned on me.
“You mean” I replied “others will flick these cases and show them as their own?”
“You mean” I replied “others will flick these cases and show them as their own?”
“Exactly!” he responded - visibly relieved that this old man had at last understood the full meaning of what he meant.
“Exactly!” he responded - visibly relieved that this old man had at last understood the full meaning of what he meant.
Unfortunately though, I never did understand and perhaps will never fathom how doctors and teachers can “give too much away”.
Unfortunately though, I never did understand and perhaps will never fathom how doctors and teachers can “give too much away”.
This of course is not an isolated incident and I’ve repeatedly seen just how it can be very difficult for some to draw a line between giving and giving away..
This of course is not an isolated incident and I’ve repeatedly seen just how it can be very difficult for some to draw a line between giving and giving away..
Ever so often, when I am lecturing at meetings, I see the red focusing lamp from digital cameras on the images on the screen,. These are enthusiastic residents clicking away with their most recent digital cameras. You see, these “red lights” can get annoying and exasperated I would say
Ever so often, when I am lecturing at meetings, I see the red focusing lamp from digital cameras on the images on the screen,. These are enthusiastic residents clicking away with their most recent digital cameras. You see, these “red lights” can get annoying and exasperated I would say
“For God’s sake! stop bothering with this “dark room photography:! At the end of my lecture, those of you who are interested can copy the lecture from my CD”
“For God’s sake! stop bothering with this “dark room photography:! At the end of my lecture, those of you who are interested can copy the lecture from my CD”
“Not mine” my colleague who followed me to the lectern said “You cannot shoot off the screen for my images nor will I give you my CD after the lecture is over”
“Not mine” my colleague who followed me to the lectern said “You cannot shoot off the screen for my images nor will I give you my CD after the lecture is over”
On one such occasion, surprised at these strong words, I needled him “Why are you so possessive?”
On one such occasion, surprised at these strong words, I needled him “Why are you so possessive?”
“Oh!” he explained “I’ve collected these with such great difficulty. I don’t want to give it away to others on a platter”
“Oh!” he explained “I’ve collected these with such great difficulty. I don’t want to give it away to others on a platter”
“Why” I persisted
“Why” I persisted
”Come on Ravi! it is obvious; they will show it off as their own”
”Come on Ravi! it is obvious; they will show it off as their own”
“So? I retorted”
“So? I retorted”
“But, that is wrong” he almost shouted!
“But, that is wrong” he almost shouted!
“But, we sell CDs” with similar case material, I persisted.
“But, we sell CDs” with similar case material, I persisted.
“Oh! That’s different - its paid for – it’s perhaps OK then” he replied..
“Oh! That’s different - its paid for – it’s perhaps OK then” he replied..
“On! Common” I mumbled noting the obvious “value” attached to the service and left it that.
“On! Common” I mumbled noting the obvious “value” attached to the service and left it that.
Sure it is wrong. You cannot use others' material and show it off as your own. But, ever so often, we ourselves are guilty of such plagiarism, I am sure there are many of us out there, who when using other people’s material do acknowledge the source or say “This is not my case; I borrowed this from so and so or I got this from the net” . But for each one of us like that do that, there are ten others who pass off plagiarized material as their own - scant realizing that the audience is not fool enough not to be able to catch the lie.
Sure it is wrong. You cannot use others' material and show it off as your own. But, ever so often, we ourselves are guilty of such plagiarism, I am sure there are many of us out there, who when using other people’s material do acknowledge the source or say “This is not my case; I borrowed this from so and so or I got this from the net” . But for each one of us like that do that, there are ten others who pass off plagiarized material as their own - scant realizing that the audience is not fool enough not to be able to catch the lie.
But then just because there are people that cheat, does the internet shut down? We all know that we all would perish (well almost) without Google. Day in and day out, we scrounge the internet for information that will help us learn or treat patients. What would happen if every one thought that they were “giving too much away”? . There would be no internet, no blogs, no teaching files, no open access journals no free lunch... Is that right? – Of course not. Thus as far as the net is concerned, there is nothing like “Giving too much away” – QED.
But then just because there are people that cheat, does the internet shut down? We all know that we all would perish (well almost) without Google. Day in and day out, we scrounge the internet for information that will help us learn or treat patients. What would happen if every one thought that they were “giving too much away”? . There would be no internet, no blogs, no teaching files, no open access journals no free lunch... Is that right? – Of course not. Thus as far as the net is concerned, there is nothing like “Giving too much away” – QED.
As teachers we are constantly giving, teaching others what we know – reducing our exclusiveness at all times. As doctors we keep treating patients - each patient treated is one patient less for revenue. All this will not stand logic of materialism or ego. These are signs of a true “do gooder” – a supreme example of altruism.
As teachers we are constantly giving, teaching others what we know – reducing our exclusiveness at all times. As doctors we keep treating patients - each patient treated is one patient less for revenue. All this will not stand logic of materialism or ego. These are signs of a true “do gooder” – a supreme example of altruism.
And even as I conclude this piece, I scan through this morning’s headlines in the newspaper and here is this guy (an Indian) who has invented an “anti snooze” device for car drivers to prevent them from dozing off at the wheels. Asked by the reporter if he has applied for a patent for his new invention he said “No, not yet; I feel, the more it is copied, the more the lives that will be saved”
And even as I conclude this piece, I scan through this morning’s headlines in the newspaper and here is this guy (an Indian) who has invented an “anti snooze” device for car drivers to prevent them from dozing off at the wheels. Asked by the reporter if he has applied for a patent for his new invention he said “No, not yet; I feel, the more it is copied, the more the lives that will be saved”
Teachers and doctors can never “give too much away”.
Teachers and doctors can never “give too much away”.
Let us be proud that being a medical teacher is probably the noblest of all professions.
Let us be proud that being a medical teacher is probably the noblest of all professions.
Let’s keep giving away so “more lives will be saved”.
Let’s keep giving away so “more lives will be saved”.
August 2007
August 2007