That was two years back. My mom developed an acute allergic
reaction to one of the common pills taken for nausea. Probably one of the
simplest of the diseases we study, or we don’t even need to study that, as it’s so trivial,
ironically!
I am a doctor. But that day, when I went around running for
investigations and trying to figure out what the chief doctor had to say,
helplessly trying to dodge the naïve juniors so as to save time, I just wish
such a day never happened again.
My friend literally mocked at me when I said I didn’t even
know what she was going through even 14 hours after its onset, surprisingly,
after being seen by an expert in internal medicine, a nephrologist, a neurologist and
my dad himself being a top notch surgeon!
It IS very cold out there. Yes, I admit it. We all have to
admit it.
Its not the first time and its not happened only with me.
When we medicos ourselves have been victims, its quite understandable what the
commoner goes through. And I see this program by Gopinath which brought out
many not-so-comfortable aspects of healthcare in our county, its no
exaggeration!
Just a smile from the doctor, the extra minute you deeply
wish he spent on explaining stuff to you, forget all that, that extra comfort the attending nurse provides you, or at least by not frowning or yelling at you,
the extra minute they let you be with the diseased one from your family, that
extra visitor’s token the security gives you, which means you can visit him/her
for the second time in a day, they all mean a world! Like they did to me.
After all these years I have been associated with the
medical profession, honestly, I have seen only few doctors who try to look
beyond the disease in a patient. It was another tough day at work, fidgeting with
the discharges, and as I was frustrated, so was a little kid and his mom, about
the 8 hour journey back home and his board exam the next day. Thanks to Dr.
Vivek(anandan), they could at least start off early that day, without completing the
discharge procedure.
Its also extremely tough to do such things and I myself
don’t know if I will be able to!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUbfRzxNy20
ReplyDeleteThe same kind of thought reiterated here too. Medicine and Life Sciences can never boast that they know it all. They have to constantly keep evolving. Forget about medical negligence. We don't even have enough knowledge on the human body to comprehensibly say that this is the root cause of the problem and hence this is the solution. This is why we should all appreciate research and what it will bring us say in another 100 years and encourage govts. to spend more on those lines.
your determintation clearly visible in your post man!! you ll be a good doc..you too aravind...nicely written.....and :) solid pic boss! :P ...i suggest you post it here www.bharatmatrimony.com ....... some grammar corrections by the grammar geek:
ReplyDelete"... mocked at me when I said I DID’nt even know "
"surprisingly, after BEING seen by an expert"
"I was frustrated, so WAS a little kid and his mom"
your determination IS clearly visible :D and its high time u stop being a jackass man !! :D thanks for the comments .. grammar corrections updated !
ReplyDeleteExcellent piece of writing, with narratives from your own life... Its interesting to see a doctor see the way 'US' commoners do & experience what we might have missed / will miss.. I'm sure you're gonna keep all that in mind, cut down the shortcomings & become a great doc Ashwin! :)
ReplyDelete