Yesterday's incident involving a doctor at a major hospital in Kashmir being slapped by an attendant has generated strong reactions. For many, it became more than a case of assault. The incident has turned into a mirror reflecting the many fractures in the region’s healthcare system, exposing not just patient frustration, but also the exhaustion and vulnerability of overworked medical professionals. A senior resident doctor from Srinagar, requesting anonymity, described the pressures doctors face daily. “We are working 16 to 18 hours a day, with hardly any breaks or time to breathe. Sometimes we go entire shifts without meals or even water. I know some of us falter in our duties. But the system burns us out.” He explained that what is often perceived by patients as arrogance is, in m...