Author | Lightnews

Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 19d

Your skills have value.
Even at 2 AM.
Even as a junior.
Even when "learning."

Especially when doing the actual surgery.
Stop funding their comfort with your desperation.

Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 19d

You deserve fair compensation.
Both can be true.

Before your next "learning opportunity":
Agree on fees. In writing.
Know your worth. State it clearly.
If they deflect? Walk away.
The world isn't fair.
But you don't have to volunteer for exploitation.

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Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 19d

Here's what they won't tell you:
Desperation is their business model.
The more you need the "opportunity," the less they pay.
The more grateful you feel, the more they exploit.

Respect seniority? Absolutely.
Fund their lifestyle while you struggle? Never.
Senior surgeons deserve respect.

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Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 19d

"But junior, this is how you learn!"
Learn what?
That your hands are worth less than their name?
That 3 hours of surgery pays less than 3 hours of sleep?

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Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 19d

2 AM emergency call.
You operate for 3 hours.
Senior sleeps on changing room couch.
Your fee: ₹15,000.
His fee: ₹45,000.
For being "present."

This is ghost surgery economics.
You do the cutting.
They do the collecting.
Your skill funds their leisure.
Your exhaustion pays their EMIs.

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Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 19d

Their negotiation tactics won't save your dignity.
Draw boundaries or stay broke.
The choice was always yours.

Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 19d

I stopped haggling.
First negotiation attempt = polite decline.
Second attempt = show them the door.

"But doctor, people will call you greedy!"
They already do.
While counting notes from their designer wallet.

Your surgical precision saved mobility.

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Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 19d

The Mercedes crowd?
They don't value your service.
They value their savings.
They'll negotiate ₹50,000 off your fees, then spend ₹80,000 on their next vacation.

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Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 19d

Here's what 25 years taught me:
Patients who deserve discounts rarely ask.
Patients who demand discounts rarely deserve them.
The ones who truly struggle say "fees is high" but hesitate to negotiate.
Why?
They value what you're giving them.

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Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 19d

iPhone. Luxury watch. Premium car.
But when it's time to pay for surgery that restored his father's walking?
"Doctor, fees is too high. We're simple people."

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Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 19d

Morning surgery: Saved senior citizen's mobility.
Afternoon: His son negotiating 40% discount because "pension limitations."
Evening: Son's Mercedes in parking lot.

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Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 22d

Because quitting means losing 3 months of unpaid work.

This is how hospitals exploit young surgeons.
Not with low salaries.
With delayed payments disguised as policy.

You work.
They profit.
You wait.

Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 22d

They call it "security deposit."
I call it interest-free loan extracted from desperate surgeons.

₹18 lakhs of his earnings held hostage.
While hospital earns interest on money he generated.

He can't quit.
Can't complain.
Can't even negotiate.

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Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 22d

Month 2: Generated ₹52 lakhs.
Borrowed ₹35,000 from me to pay rent.

He's operating on 15 patients weekly.
Hospital collecting full fees.
He's eating on borrowed money.

Legal? Yes.
Ethical? Laughable.
Common? Everywhere.

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Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 22d

Friend joined new hospital last month.
Offer letter: ₹3 lakhs monthly.
Sounds good.

Contract fine print:
First 3 months salary held as "security deposit."
Released only after completion.

Month 1: Generated ₹47 lakhs in surgeries.
His bank account: ₹0.

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Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 25d

They network with industry leaders.
We network with each other's struggles.

They're building empires.
We're building debt.

The conference brochure showed equality.
The reality showed hierarchy.

₹45,000 bought us access to a room.
Bought them access to opportunities.

Same event.
Different worlds.

Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 25d

Conference hall:
Seniors presenting on stage.
Sponsored dinner invitations.
Private manufacturer meetings.

Us in the back row.
Taking notes.
Paying for our own meals.

Same registration fee.
Same certificate.
Completely different conferences.

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Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 25d

Medical conference registration: ₹45,000.
Same fee for everyone.

Senior surgeons:
Business class flights: ₹62,000.
Five-star hotel suite: ₹18,000/night.
Sponsored by equipment companies.

Young surgeons:
Economy flight: ₹8,500 (self-paid).
Budget hotel: ₹2,200/night.
Four of us sharing one Uber.

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Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 26d

He sets boundaries.
I break mine to appear dedicated.

No wonder he sleeps peacefully.
While I answer WhatsApp at 2 AM.
The uneducated driver understands value.
The educated surgeon undervalues everything.

Including himself.

Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 26d

Last week calculation:
His monthly earnings: ₹65,000.
My effective hourly rate after free consultations and delays: ₹280.

The man with 10th standard knows what medical school never taught:

Time uncompensated is respect lost.

He charges waiting time.
I give waiting time.

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Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 26d

I still haven't after 12 years of medical school.

He values his time.
I'm still proving my worth.

He says no to bad deals.
I say yes to everyone.

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Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 26d

Patient's driver: ₹500/hour.
Charges for waiting time.
Charges for traffic delays.
Charges for parking.

Me after 12 years of training: ₹300/hour.
Free if patient shows up late.
Free if case gets delayed.
Free phone consultations at midnight.

The driver learned pricing in one month.

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Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 27d

They want you obsessed with surgical excellence.
While you're perfecting ligament repairs, financial advisors are selling you garbage policies.

One workshop on equity beats ten workshops on arthroscopy.

For your bank account, at least.

Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 27d

You learn 15 approaches to ACL reconstruction.
Zero approaches to wealth construction.

The surgeon perfecting techniques stays broke.
The surgeon understanding compound interest retires rich.

Your scalpel has income limits.
Your investments don't.

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Biswajit Dutta Baruah @itsbiswajit.bsky.social · 27d

Five years later:
Surgical skills: marginally better.
Investment portfolio: ₹87 lakhs.

That book made me more money than all those workshops combined.

Medical education teaches precision.
Never teaches prosperity.

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