The Marriage Leave

The junior resident (JR) in surgery working at Khota Medical College, asked Dr. Jolting (Fictional Name) for leave to go for the marriage of his friend. Dr. Jolting gave permission for it.

A few days later the same junior resident asked leave to go for the marriage of another friend.  Dr. Jolting gave permission.

Again, a few days later the same junior resident asked leave to go for the marriage of his cousin. Reluctantly Dr. Jolting gave permission as due to the shortage of residents the work of the unit used to suffer when one of the junior residents used to go on leave.

A few days later the same junior resident asked leave to go for the marriage of his wife’s friend. An exasperated Dr. Jolting remarked, “If you like attending marriage’s so much, why don’t you leave surgery and become a marriage party caterer? You will be able to attend plenty of marriages while working at the same time.”

Frequent leave of absence even if for ‘justifiable’ reason will make you unpopular both among your superior or boss and among your colleague. Do try to be judicious when taking leave for any reason.

(Based on true incident)

— ND
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 DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Practice should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost. 

DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Education should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost and according to MCI and other Board’s norm. 

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The Pocket Name Badge

The Head of the Department (HOD) of Medicine in AIIMS, New Delhi was very particular that every student attending even his theory class should come wearing a doctor’s white coat (apron) with a pocket name badge (name plate) with the student’s name.

Once a student went to his class while wearing the white coat but forget to attach the pocket name badge.

When the HOD noticed this, he started reprimanding him for not wearing the pocket name badge. He explained that the name badge is very important to give an identity to the students and the doctors and all students and doctors should wear it.

When faced with criticism, there are various kinds of student’s reaction, ranging from those who withdraw in a shell like a tortoise to those who puff like a puffer fish. The student was of the latter variety.

When the HOD was lecturing the student on the need for the pocket nameplate, the student started pointedly looking at the pocket of the HOD’s white coat where there should have been pocket name badge.

It occurred that the HOD himself had forgotten to wear the pocket name badge that day! Catching the student’s stare’s meaning the HOD said, “All should wear a pocket name badge on their apron so that they can be easily identified unless you are famous like me and everyone knows your name.”

Before pointing out someone’s mistake it is better to do a self-check first. Otherwise, when you are pointing a finger toward someone, 3 fingers may be pointing towards you.

Your teacher/boss/officer may follow different rules from you. Learn to live with this fact.

 (Based on allegedly true incident)

— ND
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 DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Practice should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost. 

DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Education should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost and according to MCI and other Board’s norm. 

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The Spirited Solution

Dr. Jolting (Fictional Name) was taking the round in the postoperative ward when he noticed few mattresses kept isolated from rest of the ward. On inquiry from the nursing ward in-charge, he learned that somehow the mattress had been infested with bedbugs and are being kept isolated while the hospital administration arranges the services of pest control specialist to control the infestation.

Dr. Jolting asked the ward in-charge whether he does not have anything in the ward to control the bedbugs. The ward in-charge informed that they do not have any pesticides in the ward. The nearest thing they have is the surgical spirit.

Surgical spirit is alcohol mixed with a poisonous substance, usually methanol, a highly toxic liquid so that it cannot be used for human consumption.

Dr. Jolting remarked, “That is indeed very good.” “Use the surgical spirit to disinfect the mattresses. Either the bedbugs will get killed by the surgical spirit or they will get too intoxicated (drunk) by the alcohol to bite anyone.”

(Based on allegedly true incident)

— ND
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 DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Practice should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost. 

DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Education should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost and according to MCI and other Board’s norm. 

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The Patna Patient

As an intern, Dr. Dev was posted in the Medicine Department of AIIMS, New Delhi.

For those who are not aware, after passing the final MBBS exam, the students are provisionally treated as a doctor but are required to work under supervision for one year in the hospital in various departments which is known as the internship. After successful completion of the internship, the intern is recognized as a full-fledged doctor and can then practice independently.

Dr. Dev was assigned to see the patients in the Out Patient Department under the supervision of one of the medicine junior residents. Once the junior resident was stuck in some ward work and was late in coming to the OPD. Dr. Dev started seeing the patients on its own to do at least a preliminary survey so that time is saved when the junior resident comes to OPD.

One patient had come from the city Patna from Bihar, a distance of around 1000 kilometer. He had been diagnosed with essential hypertension (high blood pressure) and the Professor of Medicine in Patna had started his treatment. On checking his blood pressure was found to be within normal range, indicating that his treatment was correct.

Dr. Dev inquired that since his blood pressure was well controlled on the treatment started in Patna, why did he come to AIIMS.

The man explained that he had shown to the professor of Medicine in Patna, who had said that he will need to take the medicines for high blood pressure for life. The patient wanted to confirm that if this was true and there was no short-term permanent treatment for his high blood pressure. Those were the days when high blood pressure was uncommon in India and the public was not well aware about it.

When Dr. Dev explained to the patient the chronic nature of the disease and the need for lifelong follow-up, monitoring, and treatment for the high blood pressure the patient got convinced. Since he will require regular check-ups Dr. Dev adviced him to continue the treatment from Patna.

Once the patient had left, Dr. Dev realized the power of an institution over an individual. The patient was not convinced by the professor of medicine as he was from Patna Medical College but got convinced by an intern as he was sitting as a doctor in AIIMS Medicine OPD. This is true in non-medical situations also.

 (Based on a true incident)

— ND
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 DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Practice should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost. 

DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Education should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost and according to MCI and other Board’s norm. 

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The White Coat Inspection

Wearing of white coat (Apron) was compulsory for the doctors working in the government hospital. When the temperature reaches 45 degree Celsius (around 110 Fahrenheit) with only inefficiently working air-coolers in the jam-packed Out Patient Department (OPD), it becomes a test of willpower for the doctors working in India.

The doctor was sitting in the surgical OPD along with other fellow surgeons. He had forgotten to bring his white coat to hospital and was seeing the patients without wearing a white coat.

Suddenly he noticed some noise near the entrance of the OPD. Looking up he saw the city Administrative Officer along with hospital administrative officers discussing something as they started entering the room.

Afraid that he will be castigated for not wearing the white coat, the doctor thought for a moment and in a jiffy got up and stood inconspicuously in the patient’s queue with his head bowed and turned away from the entering administrative officers. The officers entered the OPD did a cursory inspection and went away without noticing the doctor standing among the patients.

Once they had gone to the other section of the OPD, block the surgeon once again sat at the table and started seeing the patient.

(Based on a true incident)

— ND
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 DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Practice should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost. 

DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Education should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost and according to MCI and other Board’s norm. 

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The Long Discussion

Dr. Dev (Fictional Name) was taking the clinical ward round. A patient with some interesting clinical finding was admitted in the ward.

When Dr. Dev reached the bedside of the patient the discussion turned to the various condition or diseases which can give a clinical picture similar to those present in the patient. As the discussion progressed, a look of anxiety developed on the patient’s face. When the discussion reached the point that the patient’s problem can be due to malignancy (cancer) the patient looked absolutely crestfallen.

When Dr. Dev noticed the look on the patient’s face, he understood that being a highly educated person the patient was able to follow the clinical discussion taking place in English and could understand to some extent the nature of diseases being discussed and considered in his case.

Swiftly, Dr. Dev assured the patient that the discussion was purely academic and for teaching and learning purposes of the residents. His disease is quite simple in nature and will be easily cured. There is no evidence of cancer at present in his case. Listening to Dr. Dev’s explanation the patient relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief.

As many patients in India are not able to understand English, doctors think by discussing the patient’s problems in English the patient can be kept in a state of ignorant bliss. But the number of patients who understands English is increasing in India so that the sacrosanct status of English as medical code language is no longer valid. Doctors indulge in long discussions especially in academic institutions like AIIMS, New Delhi, without paying attention to its effect on the patient.

Even if the patient is not able to understand the actual language, a long period of discussion of his problem raises the doubt in the patient’s mind about the seriousness of his condition. Therefore it is better to clarify and assure the patient about the academic nature of any discussion involving his condition to avoid causing unnecessary anxiety to him.

Even non-medico technical persons are sometimes guilty of such behavior. You must have experienced a similar feeling when you went to the garage/workshop with your car for some minor problem (according to you) and the mechanics there raised the possibility of millions of things which could be causing the problem including complete disassembly of your vehicle to find the cause of the problem.

So, whether doctor or non-doctor, when discussing someone’s problem please keep in mind the effect on the mental status of the person whose problems you are discussing. Take prompt step to allay any anxiety if detected by you.

If you are the patient or the client do not get overly anxious over a long discussion of your problem and ask directly and get clarified any doubt you may have after such an academic discussion.

 (Based on true incident)

— ND
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 DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Practice should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost. 

DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Education should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost and according to MCI and other Board’s norm. 

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The Head Position

Immediately after surgery under anesthesia, the patient cannot move on its own and has to be lifted from the Operation Theatre (OT) table on to the shifting trolley to carry him to the ward.

The anesthetist who is standing at the head of the patient usually supports and lifts the head, the OT assistant or ward boys stand at the two sides of the patient and lift the body and trunk. The surgeon usually lifts the feet and legs of the patient. All working together smoothly transfer the patient from the OT table to the shifting trolley.

The new junior resident in the surgery department asked Dr. Jolting, “Sir, whenever we shift the patient after surgery from the OT table to the shifting trolley, the anesthetist always holds the patient’s head and we hold the patient’s legs and feet. What is the reason?”

Dr. Jolting replied the answer lies in Indian mythology. When the Devs (Indian Gods) and Asuras (Indian demons) decided to churn the ocean to produce the Amrit (Indian nectar), the snake Vasuki was used as the churning rope. The Demons demanded to hold the head end of Vasuki leaving the Gods to hold the tail end. Since that time the anesthetist has held the head of the patient and the surgeons hold the legs.

A tableau depicting the Churning of the Ocean with the Demons near the Snake Head and Gods near the Tail

Just joking: The anesthetist plays a very important role in the safe conduct of any operation and deserves the respect of the highest order.

(Based on allegedly true incident)

— ND
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 DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Practice should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost. 

DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Education should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost and according to MCI and other Board’s norm. 

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The Hernia Reduction Lesson

You must be aware of what is an abdominal hernia.  Simply put in an abdominal hernia, the muscles of the abdomen becomes weak or they develop some defect from which usually the intestine (bowel) or the omentum (known collectively as the contents of a hernia) comes out and resides below the skin.

The omentum is a fat-laden curtain like organ present between the abdominal wall and the other organs in the abdomen.

Gently guiding the contents back into the abdomen is known as reduction of a hernia. Now an interesting thing occurs when you try to reduce a hernia.

If the hernia contains small bowel or intestines, the first part is difficult to reduce, i.e. push back inside the abdomen. But once the first part has gone in the last part goes in easily.

The opposite occurs when the content is omentum. The first part goes in easily but the last part is very difficult to push back inside the abdomen.

Similar things occur frequently in life in other situations also. If faced with a difficult problem, once the first part is resolved the later parts get solved or done easily. The opposite also occurs frequently. The first part gets tackled easily but the last parts need much time and effort.

So in life when faced with a problem if the problem initially appears easily solved do not get overly confident but keep some time and effort in reserve to use if there are difficulties at the end of the problem.

If faced with a problem which appears quite unsolvable at the beginning, then don’t lose hope. It is quite possible that once the initial part is deciphered the latter parts will fall in place on its own.

(Based on true observations)

— ND
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DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Practice should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost. 

DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Education should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost and according to MCI and other Board’s norm. 

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The Persistent Prescribee

Dr. A.P. Sharma (Fictional Name) was sitting in the surgical outdoor. There was a tremendous rush in the medical outdoor across the corridor.

A man approached Dr. A. P. Sharma and giving him an old OPD prescription slip and a new blank OPD prescription slip and said, “Please copy this medicines in today’s OPD slip from the old slip.” There was a free supply of medicines for all patients with valid hospital OPD slips.

Dr. A.P. Sharma looked and asked the patient, “Whose OPD slip is this?” The man replied, “This is of my father.” “And where is he? I cannot write the medicines without examining the patient,” said Dr. A.P. Sharma.

The man said, “My father is elderly and therefore cannot come here. He is taking these medicines for diabetes and high blood pressure for the last 6 months. As there is a long queue in the medical OPD I have come to you.”

Dr. A.P. Sharma countered, “The patient is not here, there is no record of the blood sugar levels and blood pressure at present. Also, being a surgeon I am not best qualified to write these medicines. Therefore please go to the medical OPD and ask the physician there to help you. I will not copy these medicines in today’s OPD slip.”

Daunted by the prospect of standing in the long queue at the medical OPD, the man started pestering Dr. A.P. Sharma to write the medicines appealing to his sense of duty, humanity, service as a doctor, duty towards elderly, etc. After some time it becomes clear to Dr. A.P. Sharma the man will not go like this.

Dr. A.P. Sharma asked the man, “How many children you are having?” Wondering why he was asking this the man replied, “Three.”

Dr. A.P. Sharma said, “Look, I will help you if you help me. I have not able to do the minimum required numbers of vasectomies this month. You already have three kids, whereas the government had advised doing vasectomies after two kids. We have a new technique of vasectomy known as NSV. In this method there is no cut, no stitches, you can do all normal activities immediately afterward and it takes just five minutes. Help me by letting me do your vasectomy to complete my monthly quota and I will copy the medicines for you.”

Please note: There is lots of misconception among the Indian males regarding vasectomies, such as it will lead to generalized weakness, etc., with very few males opting for it.

Turning to the staff nurse, Dr. A.P. Sharma said, “Sister, please fill the vasectomy form for this patient and get the theatre ready for NSV.”

But before he could finish, the persistent prescribee had hastily disappeared from the OPD.

 (Based on true incident)

— ND
© Author. All rights reserved. 

Prescriber: One who prescribes drugs. Prescribee: One who gets drugs prescribed.
Similar to Examiner - Examinee

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DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Practice should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost. 

DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Education should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost and according to MCI and other Board’s norm. 

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The Srikalahasti Visit

Dr. Anupam Sharma (Fictional Name) was a professor in the department of surgery at AIIMS, New Delhi. He was going to attend a surgical conference at Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Dr. Vijay Mohan (Fictional Name) was a junior resident in his unit and he was from Tirupati. When he learned that Dr. Anupam was going to Tirupati, he implored Dr. Anupam to extend his stay by at least one day to stay at his home and allow him to take him for local sight-seeing. Dr. Anupam graciously accepted his offer.  

Dr. Vijay Mohan took leave and reached his hometown to coincide with Dr. Anupam’s visit.

After the conference was over, true to his words, Dr. Vijay took Dr. Anupam to visit the local places including the famous Lord Shiva temple at Srikalahasti.

While coming out of the temple Dr. Anupam asked Dr. Vijay, “Why is this place called Srikalahasti?”

Dr. Vijay was stunned for a moment. He had been visiting that place since childhood but had never thought about the origin of the name. He thought if I say do not know the reason I will appear a fool that I don’t even know about such a famous place which I had been visiting since birth.

Dr. Vijay raced his mind and to impress Dr. Anupam he explained, “Sir, ‘Sri’ is a title of respect, ‘Kala’ means black and ‘Hasti’ means hand. So this is the place of the ‘Respected Black Hand’.” Dr. Vijay felt satisfied that he had salvaged the situation by his quick thinking.

Leaving Dr. Anupam alone, Dr. Vijay then got busy in arranging the transport to take them back home.

Next day at breakfast Dr. Anupam informed Dr. Vijay, “When you are busy arranging return transport yesterday at the Srikalahasti temple, I saw and purchased a book on that place and read it last night. According to that book the Srikalahasti town is named after ‘Sri’ a spider, ‘Kala’ a snake and ‘Hasti’ an elephant that once worshiped Shiva Lingam there and attained salvation.”

As Dr. Anupam kept on speaking about what he had learned from the book, Dr. Vijay’s embracement kept on growing.

Tip: Guiding your Head/Mentor/Boss/Teacher on a local visit can be a good opportunity to form a bond especially if there is a language problem. For example, the local language at Tirupati was Telugu, while Dr. Anupam knew only English and Hindi.

Tip: It is better to brush up and learn about the proper history and other facts about the places you are planning on visiting to avoid looking ignorant and make the visit more interesting.

Tip: If in doubt be honest. It is better to be an ignorant honest person than to be thought of as a false story-teller. In this day of smart-phones, internet, Google and Wikipedia, anything you say can be easily checked.

(Based on a true incident)

— ND
© Author. All rights reserved. 

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DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Practice should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost. 

DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Education should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost and according to MCI and other Board’s norm. 

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The Party President

Dr. Jolting (Fictional Name) was the only assistant professor in the surgical unit C in the Medical College, Kota for some time. As the post of the senior resident was also vacant in the unit, he was the first on-call faculty member all the time.

Once when he was sitting in the Surgical OPD, two patients of road accident came accompanied by a mob of attendants. After primary treatment, they had been referred from a Primary Health Centre (PHC) from the rural area. Dr. Jolting promptly started examining the patients.

One of the attendants of the patient came forward and introduced himself as the Block President of Party XYZ. Blocks are small area compromising of few villages. Although it was one of the national parties of India, the name is not important as this was the individual person’s action and not representative of the party.

From his tone of speech and his body language, it appeared that he was doing a great favor to Dr. Jolting by speaking to him. Although Dr. Jolting was on friendly terms with his party’s officials much higher in rank than him, yet he decided to pamper his ego and not unnecessarily antagonize the party president. With an expression of joy and gratitude Dr. Jolting warmly responded, “I am very pleased to meet you. It is such a great honor.”

The Block President did not think that Dr. Jolting’s response was commensurate with his status. With a meaningful menacing look in his eyes, he told Dr. Jolting, “You must have heard that a group of our party workers had beaten a doctor in the PHC Sultanpur a few days ago. I was the leader of that group. So better take good care of these patients.”

Dr. Jolting looked at the party president and said, “Due to the shortage of staff I have been on continuous call for the last 30 days and have not been able to take even a single day off. I am giving the best possible treatment to your patients. If you are still not satisfied and want to beat me up then do it fast. I will be able to take medical leave and have rest for at least 10-15 days after the beating.”

The block president was stunned by Dr. Jolting’s response and stammered, “No, No. I did not mean anything like that. You please carry on with your treatment.” and faded to the background.

Sometimes verbalizing the opposite person's intentions can change the whole dynamics of the situation.

(Believe it or not but based on a true incident)

— ND
© Author. All rights reserved. 

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DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Practice should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost. 

DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Education should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost and according to MCI and other Board’s norm. 

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The TB Patient

This happened in the Ballabhgarh Community Health Center (CHC) Harayan which is affiliated to AIIMS, New Delhi.

Junior and Senior doctors from AIIMS are posted there to get experience in working in a small setup. The doctors keep on rotating with a posting of few months at the Ballabhgarh CHC.

A patient suffering from Lungs tuberculosis (Pulmonary TB) came for consultation to the Senior Resident (SR) Medicine at the CHC Out-Patient-Department (OPD). The patient was taking medicines for tuberculosis (TB) for the last 9 months. 

The SR noted that the patient had completed the recommended 9 months course of anti-tuberculosis medicines and appeared completely cured of the disease.  (The recommended duration may be different at present time and for different patients.) The SR congratulated the patient and informed him that he is now cured of his disease and can stop taking the anti-tuberculosis medicines.

The patient asked, “Sir, does that means I can stop wearing the face mask in my house and start having close interactions with my family members?”

The surprised SR asked him to explain what does he means by this. The SR was surprised to learn that when the man was first diagnosed with tuberculosis, he had been asked by the previous Senior Resident Medicine to wear a face mask and to avoid close contact with his other family members. This was to avoid spreading the tuberculosis bacteria by the air-borne route to them.

The SR medicine was since transferred back to AIIMS, New Delhi. When the patient came for the next visit the SR was not there and the patient was too intimidated to ask the new SR till what time he had to follow these restrictions. So the last 9 months the patient had worn a face-mask all the time in his house and was maintaining a distance from other family members including his wife and children when the restrictions if needed was to be followed only for 15 days!

The SR informed him that he need not wear any face-mask and can lead an unrestricted life like others. The patient went back that day with a smile on his face but returned next day to the OPD with a large packet of sweets (Indian Mithai) and an even larger smile on his face.

Tip: When advising some restrictions to the patients, clients, customers; such as food, diet, activity, etc. it is better to give them the expected time when the restrictions will be lifted or the time when they may be reassessed. Failure to do so may lead to unnecessary hardship for them.  

Tip to Patients: If your doctor advises you some precautions or restrictions, then ask till what time or till what point are they to be followed. If it is not clear at that time, then you may ask on your next visit about stopping or modifying them.  

(Based on allegedly true incident)

— ND
© Author. All rights reserved. 

If viewing from Mobile, switch to Webpage view to see a list of popular posts and index of topics of previous posts.

DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Practice should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost. 

DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Education should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost and according to MCI and other Board’s norm. 

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