Sunday 2 April 2023

The 98 % Doctor

 

Dr. Jolting (fictional name) was taking the ward round with the junior resident doctors. In addition to inspecting and checking the patient’s latest status, Dr. Jolting was also reviewing the status of work completed by the junior resident looking after the patients in that ward which were instructed in the last round. They reached the patient on the last bed in the ward. Until that time the ward round was proceeding satisfactorily as the junior resident doctor had completed all the work allotted to him in the previous round.

At the last bed, Dr. Jolting got angry when he found that the resident doctor had not completed one work that was instructed to him in the last ward round. The junior resident looked hurt. He countered, ‘Sir, I have done almost all the work instructed in the last round. I have missed only this one work, I deserve praise for all the work done and not reprimand for  not doing just one small task.’

 Dr. Jolting asked, ‘Do you know what is DNA?’

 The resident looked surprised at this apparently out-of-context question but answered, ‘Of course, sir, DNA is the molecule that carries the genetic information for the development, functioning, and growth of all organisms. It is responsible for carrying and transmitting the hereditary characteristics or the genetic instructions from parents to offspring.’

‘Quite right,’ agreed Dr. Jolting, ‘And, do you know what Chimpanzees are?’

The resident looked confused at another out-of-context question but answered, ‘Yes sir, they are a type of great ape or monkeys quite similar to humans.’

  Dr. Jolting elucidated, ‘Yes, but do you know that the Chimpanzees have 98.8% DNA similar to human beings? There is a difference of only 1.2%. A tiny difference of 1 to 2% in DNA can make us chimpanzees and not humans.’

  ‘Similarly, our patients, the public, the media, the judiciary, and the world expect us to do 100% of our work with 100% efficiency. So learn to complete 100% of your work with perfection or leave the medical profession.’

— ND

(Based on allegedly true incident.)

Link to American Museum of Natural History Website https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent/human-origins/understanding-our-past/dna-comparing-humans-and-chimps

 Link to Wikipedia pages on DNA:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introduction_to_genetics 

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DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purposes. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use the information herein is at your 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. The author recommends that Medical Education should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient and students as foremost and according to NMC and other Board norms. 

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