Santhosh's ramblings

The man had some mild chest pain. He was accompanied by about 15 people, all walking around trying to show their importance and prominence. The Junior Doctor got the ECG done which was inconclusive. She send the ECG to me and I over phone asked her to shift the man to ICU and then get a repeat ECG and some blood tests. It was about 12 mid AM at night when all this was going on. Since a repeat ECG would any way come to me, I thought instead of it being sent, I could go to ICU and be there, see the ECG settle in the patient and come back. Which was not what the JD wanted, I did not know that the relatives had been pushing her to call the consultant and was trying to make life tough for her. She was not too keen to disturb me. Walking into ICU, a group followed me in. Questions followed. What about repeat ECG. What about blood test? Then dropping some names of prominent people and places where he has been treated etc. ECG, Blood tests all being inconclusive, morning itself they were off,...

The context in which we are living now, every day multiple issues come up related to "Shame" and "honor" which affects clinical management of patients. A girl admitted with suicide attempt on a ventilator tried communicating to us, writing on a paper - first note - please save my life, second note - please adopt me. The father seemed to be keen for her to be treated and looking forward to her recovery, but was not taking any efforts to pay the bills, or support in decision making, though they seemed to have the resources to support her treatment. The shame of having a daughter (though she is doing her BA) who has tried to commit suicide, was that why the father was aloof? Did the girl know that the honor of her family was at stake and that is why she did not want to go home? Parents (both mother and father) when asked about the number of children they have - would blissfully say - 2 "bacha" and when asked again, how many girls you have, they will say ...

The man who came for a Medical checkup was rather arrogant with the Junior Medical officer. May be because she was a lady doctor. She was asking relevant history but he was getting angry and was trying to push her to a corner by objecting to answer most of her questions. She got upset with the way he was behaving and tried to make him see reason. But he was not relenting and so she asked me whether I could see him later when he comes in for his reports. The next day he came in for his reports. Walking in, one could see the haughty arrogant face. I asked him to sit down and started talking to him about some abnormal reports he had. His face seemed to show some change but soon he composed himself and told me – there is nothing wrong with him, just give the reports and fill up the medical forms and let him go. I was getting irritated with his manner. I was sure that I wanted to tell him about the abnormal reports and asked him to go to the examination table. Lying down, curtain drawn, he...

POSITIONS VACANT IN EHA HOSPITALS Emmanuel Hospital Association (EHA) is the largest non-government provider of health care in India, with a network of 20 hospitals and 42 community-based health & development projects located in 14 states of India. EHA's comprehensive health services integrate essential clinical services with primary health care and community-level engagement in order to address the health priorities of the poor and marginalized people. For more details visit EHA website: www.eha-health.org. EHA is looking for committed Medical, Para medical & Technical staff to join its network of 20 hospitals in Central, North & North East India. A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO EXERCISE OUR FAITH IN WORK, TO BE INNOVATIVE, TO REACH OUT TO THOUSANDS WITHOUT HOPE – AND GAIN INVALUABLE CLINICAL EXPERIENCE IN THE PROCESS! MEDICAL Position: Medical Officer Qualification: MBBS Experience: 0-2 years. Position: Consultant – Surgeon, Obstetrician, Anaesthetist, Paediatrician, O...

65 year old male who came to OPD couple of days back was found to anemic and hypertensive and an evaluation revealed that he had an ESRD – (End Stage Renal Disease – Chronic Renal Failure.) He had just recovered from a Cerebro-vascular accident couple of months back. He was from a lower middle class socio-economic back ground. As we started preparing the family for Renal replacement therapy (Dialysis/Transplantation) Vs Palliative care, to our surprise the relatives seemed to be - too keen and proactive for a transplant! Within 24 hours they had found a donor and was asking to be referred for further management. Such a response seemed too good to be true and so I called the younger brother over to talk. And the story came out. The patient has been married for more than 30 to 40 years but had no children. 2 years back, with the aim of having a child he (? with consent of the first wife) took a second wife. This wife is only 14 years old! (One is never sure about age in these co...

Rounds at ICU. 4 patients being cared for following suicidal attempt with organophos ingestion. 2 young men, one girl and another woman. All impulsive decisions reacting to petty issues at home. One wonders - are these petty issues enough to push one into choices and decisions to take their own life. Or are there underlying deeper issues which has been simmering and the current event was an oil poured into the smouldering fire? And then it bursts out. These are not occasional events but in this part of the 'shining India' it is quite common. 600 such patients each year in this one hospital! At least one of them had taken money from a lender at 4/100 per month, making it 48% interest. And I heard this from other patients too, a net work of local financing systems which are owned and run by powerful mafia pushing the unsuspecting poor into abject poverty, in these 'good days' of India. And the next bed was a lady delivered at a local hospital, 9 hours prior to being ...

As one travels among the various people groups and ethnic groups and live and interacts with them, one is amazed by the things we see. One is the diversity of the ethnic groups, and communities. Homo sapiens that we are, are not one uniform color creed or tribe, but multiple groups with so much of diversity and color. And each individual unique in his or her own way. And we need to celebrate this. Celebrate the diversity the uniqueness we see around. As individuals we are unique, as communities we are diverse, but all carrying the common “Imago Dei”. And these diverse communities, especially the South Asian and South East Asian communities, have a creativity that is amazing. The colors, patterns, food, music, art forms, dance, innovation for daily living, and a long list of creative ways of doing things for daily living and for celebrations. The creativity of the creator as an innate part of our lives! The other thing one observes is the high social capital among many of these...