When
it comes to the choice of career, we are often times asked by everyone, right
from our childhood, “Beta, what will you become when you grow up?”. And, from
that time onwards, it sets our thinking hat of the brain into action, which
does keep hopping from one choice to another for taking a final call on a
career that we will finally put our fingers on and definitely by the time we
are graduating out from schools. It is indeed very rare to hear from children
that they wish to become a ‘Lawyer’, except in cases where their parents or relatives belong to this profession and they have grown in the
chambers of Lawyer families!.
In my case it was altogether a different story though. I clearly remember my family would always get me the Doctor play set as a child, to play with. I was so fascinated with the black stethoscope in my ears and I would be the one who would role-play as Doctor with my local play group friends and who would gladly play the role of patients. Hence whenever I was questioned as a child what I wanted to become, I would immediately chirp out in euphoria with a glow of enthusiasm, “I will become a Doctor!”. I consider myself truly blessed and fortunate that I could achieve my childhood dream by clearing medical studies in M.B;B.S. and thereafter I could also pursue specialization in Dermatology & then in Aesthetic Dermatology thus beautifying people's Skin & Looks! I got onto the journey of Personal Growth through MindValley Masterclasses and I remember I was so fascinated by Energy Medicine taught by Donna Eden at that time! Thereafter got interested in Cymatics after understanding the terminology from SSR Diaries! These varied interests and the realisation that I have got just this life, made me deliberate on what I really wanted to do and finally I had the courage to take a bold step at the end of 2019! I planned to shift to Malaysia and pursue joining Mindvalley Headquarters along with a part time teaching post in a Malaysian Dermatology Department!. And with these dreams , I visited Malaysia in Nov-December 2019 to explore the opportunities and was quite on track and working it out until....MARCH 2020 - when Nation-wide lockdown was announced in India on 28th March 2020!
Back then, in December 2019, when the COVID virus was just beginning its stealthy journey of spread from Wuhan, I was at an event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Smiling and full of hope, I envisioned a future where I would migrate to the Malaysian capital to pursue my dreams. I aimed to join MindValley, one of the premier personal growth organizations headquartered there, while also taking up a part-time teaching job in a dermatology department at a Malaysian university.
Looking back at photos from personal growth events in India and Malaysia in 2019, I am struck by how carefree and unaware I was of the impending storm. Little did I know that the virus, which had just begun its journey in China, was about to bring about the most nightmarish days of my life in 2020. This period, which I once saw as preparation for realizing my dreams, turned out to be a harsh wake-up call that would alter my entire path forever.
I recall a moment from my past when a neighborhood aunt stopped me in our society. With a warm pat on my back, she reminisced about my childhood and asked, “What will you become when you grow up?” She praised me for living up to the ambitions I had shared with her as a child.
At that time, I never imagined studying law. My focus was solely on my career as a medical practitioner and dermatologist. Lawyers, to me, were those outside smaller courts, often seeking attention from passersby, which gave me a rather unflattering view of the profession. I was unaware of the nuanced and sophisticated world of advocacy and the vital role that legal knowledge plays in safeguarding personal lives.
But destiny had different plans. Despite thriving in my career in dermatology and aesthetics, and standing on the brink of becoming an authority in aesthetic dermatology, life had other lessons for me. By 2019, I had begun exploring personal growth and developed an interest in energy and sound medicine. Yet, the unforeseen challenges of 2020 would soon steer me in a direction I had never anticipated, forcing me to confront a new reality and redefine my path.
It
is indeed very thought-provoking and sad status of many educated professionals like me in our country, that despite being an
educated Doctor neither was I aware about ABC of Law and nor did I ever think about
the consequences of being ignoramus about law. Myself and my family paid a huge price for this legal naivety
and we have been taken for a ride by crooks and criminals preying upon the
naïve laymen of the country. If a family
having educated doctor and commercial pilots can be so treated by the crooks,
what about the poor, uneducated and underprivileged sections of the society
surviving only on hand-to-mouth circumstances. I wish I became a Lawyer much
earlier, then my Father would have been alive today!
Only
after beginning to study Law, I realized that knowledge of law is as important
as survival in this country which is burdened by overflowing number of court
cases and meagre number of Judges to solve so many heaps of piling files,
leading to delays of years and years before being able to even think about
getting justice or resolution for legal matters.
Looking back today, I realize that my lack of knowledge has cost me dearly—not only in terms of my mental peace, personal growth, and harmony in life, but also in delaying and derailing my dreams and passions for both self-improvement and contributing to society. This ignorance also inflicted deep wounds on my elderly mother and me, especially after we were manhandled by a local thug posing as a builder. This individual crossed all limits, allegedly orchestrating my father's death under the guise of COVID protocols, following through on the threats he made when I filed an FIR against him and his company on 27 June 2020.
My father, constantly threatened since the day the FIR was filed, was deeply worried, yet I refused to give in to their intimidation. Tragically, as COVID ravaged Mumbai and hospital beds became scarce, my father was hospitalized at the end of August. The builder's son-in-law maintained contact with my father until the very last day, when my father was forcibly placed on a ventilator. They seized this opportunity to ensure he never returned home. My father, a key witness to their fraudulent activities, was eliminated to break my resolve and crush my spirit, as they wanted me to feel utterly helpless, despite being a COVID frontline worker.
Their aim was to shatter my confidence, demoralize me, and instill fear for the safety of myself and my family by taking my father's life. They hoped to pressure me into withdrawing the criminal complaint filed against them, using their wealth and muscle to force me into submission.
They ensured that my father was effectively left to die, orchestrating his legal murder by bribing the doctors at the hospital. These doctors deliberately allowed his viral infection to progress unchecked, neglecting to follow up on crucial test reports and provide the urgent treatment he desperately needed in a notorious COVID facility. Blood, urine, sputum, and cerebrospinal fluid samples were taken from my father on 1st September 2020, yet the reports were never traced until after he passed away on the evening of September 5. The reports surfaced only on the morning of September 6, long after it was too late. This occurred in a well-known, tertiary care ICU facility in Central Mumbai, where such reports could have easily been prepared within 24 hours.
This gross negligence, despite the clear implications for delaying diagnosis and critical treatment, shows a deliberate act of malice from the treating doctors. Time was of the essence in saving my elderly, vulnerable father from COVID, yet they intentionally let him suffer without proper care. The cruelty didn’t end there—on my birthday, 4th September 2020, I was barred from even seeing or touching my father’s feet while he lay unconscious on ventilator support in the COVID ICU. They claimed it was against hospital protocols, despite the fact that I was a COVID frontline warrior myself. It’s clear they feared I would uncover their negligence in failing to trace the crucial reports from September 1.
The truth, however, has a way of revealing itself. Fifteen days after my father's passing, a relative of another COVID patient who was admitted to the same ICU shared a disturbing revelation with me. Unlike me, they were never restricted from seeing their father, despite the same set of doctors overseeing his care. In fact, this relative's sister was granted immediate access to the ICU after midnight, within ten minutes of requesting to see her father following a bad dream. She was allowed to sit by his bedside for three hours, in the very same ICU where my father was being treated, exposing the blatant double standard and the cruel deceit I was subjected to.
Imagine my shock when I discovered that a layman family was freely allowed to visit their father in the same COVID ICU where my own father was admitted—while I, a senior consulting medical doctor and a COVID frontline warrior, was denied the same basic right. The cruel, inhumane game played by these doctors became all too clear.
After they forcibly put my father on ventilator support, I was barred from visiting him in the ICU or even reviewing his daily treatment plan and reports. The excuse? The hospital's HR head claimed they had no way of knowing if I was a real doctor. This, despite my credentials as a COVID consultant! They also refused to keep us informed about my father's condition and ignored all my treatment suggestions, including something as simple as administering an enema to clear his bowels. Unfortunately, these doctors won their game, exploiting the desperate situation we were in—there were no other COVID beds available in Mumbai at the time, leaving us with no choice but to use the only bed in this notorious hospital.
I deeply regret transferring my father from the local hospital, which was unclean but atleast allowed me to check up and meet my Father, to this posh yet treacherous facility in August 2020. The cruelty of these doctors, who belong to the same profession I've dedicated 21 years of my life to mastering, has left me with unbearable trauma and guilt. For a long time, I hated myself, feeling that my medical degree was useless because I couldn't save my own father, despite being recognized as a COVID frontline warrior. I had even met with the Hon'ble Health Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Rajesh Tope, soon after the nationwide lockdown, and received high praise for my research and efforts in the fight against COVID.
But none of that mattered when corrupt doctors were bribed to put my father on ventilator support unnecessarily. They emotionally blackmailed me and my brothers, claiming that their "research" showed the need to ventilate patients early, even if they were stable on a BiPAP machine, to prevent worsening. They warned that without our consent, they wouldn't guarantee my father's survival. I later learned from my Fathers' digital data from his android that the son-in-law of the Builder who had threatened us was in constant contact with my father until the last day when he was transferred to the tertiary care hospital, and he had enquired and known about our decision to transfer him to a particular hospital on 29 August 2020. My father never regained consciousness after being ventilated and passed away shortly after, leaving me immensely devastated.
This experience has exposed the dark side of a profession I once held in the highest regard, revealing the heartless decisions made by those who should have been our greatest allies in the fight for my father's life.
Recently, I had the opportunity to put my knowledge of the Consumer Protection Act to the test in a personal matter. By applying what I had learned, I was able to navigate some tricky situations where companies were trying to take advantage of me. Thanks to my understanding of the law, I managed to secure a swift and fair resolution from the concerned service providers.
In another, more dangerous incident, I found myself targeted by the same Builder and his men after pursuing criminal proceedings against them who are politically very well connected land mafias and scamsters in Mumbai. My actions of unearthing multiple evidences of their habitual offender status from various Government Department, made me a threat to their freedom, putting my safety at risk. Fortunately, I was able to immediately file a police complaint, something I might not have successfully done without my legal knowledge.
These experiences have taught me, albeit the hard way, the critical importance of understanding the law of the land we live in. In a country with a population nearing 145 crores, where the judicial system is burdened with an overwhelming number of cases, knowing the law is essential. In Mumbai alone, a city that hosts nearly 2 crores on its small reclaimed island, it's crucial to be legally aware to avoid falling victim to crimes or legal traps simply due to ignorance.
Becoming well-versed in the law not only protects us but also enables us to assist our loved ones, friends, neighbors, and the wider community. It's a no-brainer: the more we know about our rights and remedies, the better equipped we are to navigate the challenges that come our way.
This is me now, while I study Law, with a new-found purpose!
I had only a vague understanding of medicolegal services until I interviewed a seasoned medicolegal consultant for a college project. That experience was eye-opening. I realized that not only does the law provide invaluable protection, but its principles can also be integrated with one's passions and expertise.
For instance, as a medical professional, I saw a significant opportunity to become a medicolegal consultant. This field is in high demand for skilled interpreters who can bridge the gap between medical science and the legal system, helping courts administer justice more effectively. Many institutions and healthcare organizations also value having a medicolegal consultant on board to advise on safety, prevention, and legal matters related to medical practice.
In today’s digital age, with the rise of online fraud and cybercrimes, there’s a growing need for expertise in Cyber Law. For those passionate about technology and the internet, this emerging field offers a challenging and rewarding career path. Cyber law professionals often collaborate with government officials to address online fraud and other cyber-related issues.
If real estate piques your interest, you can leverage your knowledge of laws like M.O.F.A., R.E.R.A., S.R.A., and the Registration Act to excel in real estate law. Similarly, those interested in academia can become lecturers or professors, shaping the future of legal education and contributing to a stronger legal system.
For those with skills in language, research, and communication, careers as arbitrators, mediators, and legal researchers are excellent options. These roles require precision and expertise in resolving disputes and advancing legal knowledge.
On a personal note, my journey with the law has been filled with unexpected turns and profound lessons. Reflecting on my experiences, I wish I could advise my younger self to study the Law of the Land more thoroughly. Understanding legal principles could have protected my family from the predatory practices of those in positions of power and might have saved my father’s life.
I hope to use the knowledge I'm gaining to serve society and contribute to the greater good. My goal is to ensure that others can benefit from the legal insights I’ve learned, helping prevent future tragedies caused by ignorance of the law. With determination and divine grace, I aspire to make a meaningful impact and ensure that no other family endures the suffering my own has experienced.
And maybe, if Almighty God and Divine realm so wishes, with their grace and my efforts, another daughter or wife or family will not lose their loved ones due to lack of knowledge about Law!
Dr Racchana Deepak Fadia
Meraki Pegasus