Today we uncermoniously celebrate the doctor's day. Its the day where we are suppose to feel good about ourselves. Henceforth i have to lift my Respiratory Infection and fever ridden body out of my warm and comfy bed to the PHC so that our dear Department of community Medicine can earn some browny points for the college.
First of July has been designated as Doctors’ Day in India. It is surprising to know how few people are aware of this. A random survey amongst the people around us, including doctors, will confirm this. Hence to expect people to know the significance of Doctors’ Day would be unrealistic.
Is first of July designated as Doctors’ Day all over the world? No, it is Doctors’ day only in India. For example, in the US, Doctors’ Day is on 30th March every year
Let me give a short history of Doctors’ Day in the US. The first Doctors’ Day was observed in the US on March 30, 1933. The idea came from Eudora Brown Almond, wife of Dr Cha Almond, and the date was the anniversary of the use of general anaesthetic in surgery. On March 30, 1842, Dr Crawford Long used ether to remove a tumour from a patient’s neck.
Now, coming closer home, how did first of July get to be designated Doctors’ Day in India. First of July happens to be the birthday of a very famous Physician of India, Dr B C Roy.
Dr B C Roy was born on July 1, 1882 at Bankipore in Patna in Bihar. His career as a physician started in 1911 when he came back to India from Bartholomew’s hospital in the UK having completed his MRCP. Thereafter, he joined the teaching staff of Calcutta Medical College and later moved to Campbell Medical School and then to Carmichael Medical College. He dedicated his life to the upliftment of Indian society, especially, the downtrodden.
Thus July 1st was considered an appropriate day to be designated as Doctors’ Day- a tribute to Dr B C Roy and the entire medical profession.
I always wonder what happened to the large majority of patients who were recipient of competent and humane treatment from doctors and have reason to feel grateful to doctors. Why do they not stand up and express what they surely feel?
Why cant their hearts at least publicly say Thank You, Doctor! And what better day to say this than Doctors’ Day ! Surely, this will provide a feel-good factor to all the good, honest and dedicated doctors.
Lets start ourselves by saluting the undying spirit of a doctor who will even with a bone crunching fever will go to the PHC so that his bosses could be well fed at the end of the day....
Cheers for Department Of Community Medicine!!!..
tc cao
see ya soon
Monday, June 30, 2008
Primary Health Care.....Best Medical Negligence!!
India's much touted and hyped Primary Health Care concept has been on since ages but the ground reality is altogether a different story.
Any Intern who has been ever posted at a Rural Govt PHC knows What a farce in the name of health services does the gov. offers. I was posted at a Govt PHC recently and went through some of the shocking pictures of medical negligence.
My Medical Officers in prescribing medicines did not even care to ask what the complaint of the patient was. On an avg he just spent 15 seconds in prescribing the medicine to the patient and moving on to the next. The examination table in the corner of the room looks like it has not been used since ages. I unfortunately being a green-horn in the working pf PHCs asked my patient to lie down on the table so that i can examine him. To my amazment there was atleast 1 inch of dirt on the table.
Then suddenly the lights went off..Daily load shedding my MO said..that amounts to around 8 hours of ancient world. A patient came with a foreign Body in the eye. To my second shock of the day there was no TORCH in the PHC for me to view the eye and remove the foreign body. I had to use my nokia as the light source....Improvisation thts the first thing medical colleges should teach i say!!...
The sphygomanometer was out of mercury since i guess 6 months so...you can guess where the hypertensive patients would be getting there monitoring done!!....
and oh i forget to mention My MO didnt have a Stethoscope with him....didnt need it he said....can catch a disease from the pulse i must say!!!!!.....
All this are just a drop in the ocean of medical negligence that these Govt Health services offer and yet often the doctors who are dragged to the court are the private practitioners who are trying to offer a quality service and rightly ask for payment of it.
Its just a poor state of doctors in india that the country is on the verge of a health breakdown.
Still I say...never give up to those tired doctors who still save many lives without whom the country would have been finished years ago.....
Cheers for Doctors
Tc
See ya soon
Any Intern who has been ever posted at a Rural Govt PHC knows What a farce in the name of health services does the gov. offers. I was posted at a Govt PHC recently and went through some of the shocking pictures of medical negligence.
My Medical Officers in prescribing medicines did not even care to ask what the complaint of the patient was. On an avg he just spent 15 seconds in prescribing the medicine to the patient and moving on to the next. The examination table in the corner of the room looks like it has not been used since ages. I unfortunately being a green-horn in the working pf PHCs asked my patient to lie down on the table so that i can examine him. To my amazment there was atleast 1 inch of dirt on the table.
Then suddenly the lights went off..Daily load shedding my MO said..that amounts to around 8 hours of ancient world. A patient came with a foreign Body in the eye. To my second shock of the day there was no TORCH in the PHC for me to view the eye and remove the foreign body. I had to use my nokia as the light source....Improvisation thts the first thing medical colleges should teach i say!!...
The sphygomanometer was out of mercury since i guess 6 months so...you can guess where the hypertensive patients would be getting there monitoring done!!....
and oh i forget to mention My MO didnt have a Stethoscope with him....didnt need it he said....can catch a disease from the pulse i must say!!!!!.....
All this are just a drop in the ocean of medical negligence that these Govt Health services offer and yet often the doctors who are dragged to the court are the private practitioners who are trying to offer a quality service and rightly ask for payment of it.
Its just a poor state of doctors in india that the country is on the verge of a health breakdown.
Still I say...never give up to those tired doctors who still save many lives without whom the country would have been finished years ago.....
Cheers for Doctors
Tc
See ya soon
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Hate the disease and not the diseased!
My posting in the Medicine department during my internship was both tough and rewarding.In a span of one and a half months,I had matured from a happy-go-lucky intern to a responsible,thoughtful doctor. An incident midway during my posting really had a lasting impact on me.....
I had mastered most of the procedures in Medicine including Lumbar puncture,Ascitic and pleural tap,collecting arterial(radial and femoral) blood for ABG(arterial blood gas)analysis.
But the one procedure which every intern covets is the 'Central venous Line'.There are 3 ways of doing it:-
1.Peripheral(easy)
2.Subclavian(toughest)
3.Jugular.
I had the misfortune of witnessing a failed attempt by one of my friends in the HIV ward.The boy ,instead of entering the subclavian vein entered the subclavian artery.(Both are close by and this is a blind procedure)The massive internal bleeding led to a hemothorax and the patient died within the hour.No significant emergency measures were taken to save him.Why?
"Are,HIV patient waise bhi marnewala hai.Ispe sab karke seekh lo".(The HIV patient is going to die anyway.Do all procedures on him and learn).
This was what the residents used to tell us.
Shattered ,I went into depression for 3 days.I did my usual work efficiently but my mind was preoccupied.
Why should HIV patients be treated as guinea pigs?Are they not human beings?Agreed that many of them wronged by not using protection,but they are paying for it with their lives!The social ostracism is expected as not many are mature enough to understand their situation.But we are doctors.If we also ill-treat them and use them for experiments,where will they go?
Relegated to balconies,these people are kept in the filthiest of surroundings.No one sweeps or mops that area for fear of contracting disease.The bedsheets are ancient and laden with dirt.No resident doctor or staff nurse bothers to venture near them.Only interns or student nurses are coaxed to go near -that too with the dangling carrot of a procedure.But most interns also refuse.After sometime even their relatives forsake them.
What happens is that sooner rather than later,the patient breathes his last.All are relieved.Good riddence!
But for me,its another battle given up without a fight.Another setback to the basic principles of humanity.This callousness on part of the so called 'Life saviours' borders on frank cruelty.This must stop.
Who are we to judge these people as good or bad?We are not Gods to play with their bodies to satisfy our academic aspirations and then allow them to die.Every patient (whether HIV positive or not) is valuable and must be given full care and treatment.Such patients need more care-medical,sanitary and emotional compared to others.They need to have exclusive wards with specialist doctors and trained staff.
Yes.AIDS at the moment,is an incurable disease.But it is possible to give these people a decent quality of life by alleviating their pain and controlling opportunistic infections.We can help them to be self-sufficient and live their last few days with self-respect.Compassion and understanding are equally important as the anti-retroviral medication as the psychological effects of the disease are equally crippling.
Come on all members of this noble fraternity.Let us show our solidarity and support to fight this deadly disease whose cure may just be round the corner.Till then we must hold on remembering these words,
"Hate the disease and not the diseased".
I had mastered most of the procedures in Medicine including Lumbar puncture,Ascitic and pleural tap,collecting arterial(radial and femoral) blood for ABG(arterial blood gas)analysis.
But the one procedure which every intern covets is the 'Central venous Line'.There are 3 ways of doing it:-
1.Peripheral(easy)
2.Subclavian(toughest)
3.Jugular.
I had the misfortune of witnessing a failed attempt by one of my friends in the HIV ward.The boy ,instead of entering the subclavian vein entered the subclavian artery.(Both are close by and this is a blind procedure)The massive internal bleeding led to a hemothorax and the patient died within the hour.No significant emergency measures were taken to save him.Why?
"Are,HIV patient waise bhi marnewala hai.Ispe sab karke seekh lo".(The HIV patient is going to die anyway.Do all procedures on him and learn).
This was what the residents used to tell us.
Shattered ,I went into depression for 3 days.I did my usual work efficiently but my mind was preoccupied.
Why should HIV patients be treated as guinea pigs?Are they not human beings?Agreed that many of them wronged by not using protection,but they are paying for it with their lives!The social ostracism is expected as not many are mature enough to understand their situation.But we are doctors.If we also ill-treat them and use them for experiments,where will they go?
Relegated to balconies,these people are kept in the filthiest of surroundings.No one sweeps or mops that area for fear of contracting disease.The bedsheets are ancient and laden with dirt.No resident doctor or staff nurse bothers to venture near them.Only interns or student nurses are coaxed to go near -that too with the dangling carrot of a procedure.But most interns also refuse.After sometime even their relatives forsake them.
What happens is that sooner rather than later,the patient breathes his last.All are relieved.Good riddence!
But for me,its another battle given up without a fight.Another setback to the basic principles of humanity.This callousness on part of the so called 'Life saviours' borders on frank cruelty.This must stop.
Who are we to judge these people as good or bad?We are not Gods to play with their bodies to satisfy our academic aspirations and then allow them to die.Every patient (whether HIV positive or not) is valuable and must be given full care and treatment.Such patients need more care-medical,sanitary and emotional compared to others.They need to have exclusive wards with specialist doctors and trained staff.
Yes.AIDS at the moment,is an incurable disease.But it is possible to give these people a decent quality of life by alleviating their pain and controlling opportunistic infections.We can help them to be self-sufficient and live their last few days with self-respect.Compassion and understanding are equally important as the anti-retroviral medication as the psychological effects of the disease are equally crippling.
Come on all members of this noble fraternity.Let us show our solidarity and support to fight this deadly disease whose cure may just be round the corner.Till then we must hold on remembering these words,
"Hate the disease and not the diseased".
Hate the disease and not the diseased!
My posting in the Medicine department during my internship was both tough and rewarding.In a span of one and a half months,I had matured from a happy-go-lucky intern to a responsible,thoughtful doctor. An incident midway during my posting really had a lasting impact on me.....
I had mastered most of the procedures in Medicine including Lumbar puncture,Ascitic and pleural tap,collecting arterial(radial and femoral) blood for ABG(arterial blood gas)analysis.
But the one procedure which every intern covets is the 'Central venous Line'.There are 3 ways of doing it:-
1.Peripheral(easy)
2.Subclavian(toughest)
3.Jugular.
I had the misfortune of witnessing a failed attempt by one of my friends in the HIV ward.The boy ,instead of entering the subclavian vein entered the subclavian artery.(Both are close by and this is a blind procedure)The massive internal bleeding led to a hemothorax and the patient died within the hour.No significant emergency measures were taken to save him.Why?
"Are,HIV patient waise bhi marnewala hai.Ispe sab karke seekh lo".(The HIV patient is going to die anyway.Do all procedures on him and learn).
This was what the residents used to tell us.
Shattered ,I went into depression for 3 days.I did my usual work efficiently but my mind was preoccupied.
Why should HIV patients be treated as guinea pigs?Are they not human beings?Agreed that many of them wronged by not using protection,but they are paying for it with their lives!The social ostracism is expected as not many are mature enough to understand their situation.But we are doctors.If we also ill-treat them and use them for experiments,where will they go?
Relegated to balconies,these people are kept in the filthiest of surroundings.No one sweeps or mops that area for fear of contracting disease.The bedsheets are ancient and laden with dirt.No resident doctor or staff nurse bothers to venture near them.Only interns or student nurses are coaxed to go near -that too with the dangling carrot of a procedure.But most interns also refuse.After sometime even their relatives forsake them.
What happens is that sooner rather than later,the patient breathes his last.All are relieved.Good riddence!
But for me,its another battle given up without a fight.Another setback to the basic principles of humanity.This callousness on part of the so called 'Life saviours' borders on frank cruelty.This must stop.
Who are we to judge these people as good or bad?We are not Gods to play with their bodies to satisfy our academic aspirations and then allow them to die.Every patient (whether HIV positive or not) is valuable and must be given full care and treatment.Such patients need more care-medical,sanitary and emotional compared to others.They need to have exclusive wards with specialist doctors and trained staff.
Yes.AIDS at the moment,is an incurable disease.But it is possible to give these people a decent quality of life by alleviating their pain and controlling opportunistic infections.We can help them to be self-sufficient and live their last few days with self-respect.Compassion and understanding are equally important as the anti-retroviral medication as the psychological effects of the disease are equally crippling.
Come on all members of this noble fraternity.Let us show our solidarity and support to fight this deadly disease whose cure may just be round the corner.Till then we must hold on remembering these words,
"Hate the disease and not the diseased".
I had mastered most of the procedures in Medicine including Lumbar puncture,Ascitic and pleural tap,collecting arterial(radial and femoral) blood for ABG(arterial blood gas)analysis.
But the one procedure which every intern covets is the 'Central venous Line'.There are 3 ways of doing it:-
1.Peripheral(easy)
2.Subclavian(toughest)
3.Jugular.
I had the misfortune of witnessing a failed attempt by one of my friends in the HIV ward.The boy ,instead of entering the subclavian vein entered the subclavian artery.(Both are close by and this is a blind procedure)The massive internal bleeding led to a hemothorax and the patient died within the hour.No significant emergency measures were taken to save him.Why?
"Are,HIV patient waise bhi marnewala hai.Ispe sab karke seekh lo".(The HIV patient is going to die anyway.Do all procedures on him and learn).
This was what the residents used to tell us.
Shattered ,I went into depression for 3 days.I did my usual work efficiently but my mind was preoccupied.
Why should HIV patients be treated as guinea pigs?Are they not human beings?Agreed that many of them wronged by not using protection,but they are paying for it with their lives!The social ostracism is expected as not many are mature enough to understand their situation.But we are doctors.If we also ill-treat them and use them for experiments,where will they go?
Relegated to balconies,these people are kept in the filthiest of surroundings.No one sweeps or mops that area for fear of contracting disease.The bedsheets are ancient and laden with dirt.No resident doctor or staff nurse bothers to venture near them.Only interns or student nurses are coaxed to go near -that too with the dangling carrot of a procedure.But most interns also refuse.After sometime even their relatives forsake them.
What happens is that sooner rather than later,the patient breathes his last.All are relieved.Good riddence!
But for me,its another battle given up without a fight.Another setback to the basic principles of humanity.This callousness on part of the so called 'Life saviours' borders on frank cruelty.This must stop.
Who are we to judge these people as good or bad?We are not Gods to play with their bodies to satisfy our academic aspirations and then allow them to die.Every patient (whether HIV positive or not) is valuable and must be given full care and treatment.Such patients need more care-medical,sanitary and emotional compared to others.They need to have exclusive wards with specialist doctors and trained staff.
Yes.AIDS at the moment,is an incurable disease.But it is possible to give these people a decent quality of life by alleviating their pain and controlling opportunistic infections.We can help them to be self-sufficient and live their last few days with self-respect.Compassion and understanding are equally important as the anti-retroviral medication as the psychological effects of the disease are equally crippling.
Come on all members of this noble fraternity.Let us show our solidarity and support to fight this deadly disease whose cure may just be round the corner.Till then we must hold on remembering these words,
"Hate the disease and not the diseased".
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