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
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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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