weigh option

An eminent surgeon of Karnataka and a great teacher to boot,that was Dr.R.H.N.Shenoy in the late 70s.I remember him saying"had only streptomycin been discovered 800 years earlier than it actually was............."The great sage Shankaraacharya was supposed to have died of Tuberculosis and he I mean our teacher, always used to stress that the sage could have lived longer.It is supposed to be the case with Swami Vivekananda too. It was a dreaded disease for which there was no cure back then.I agree with him and have more to add.
Imagine a world with no modern medical science no matter what is said against it.
Had Edward Jenner not discovered vaccine against smallpox hundreds of thousands would have died of the dreaded disease every year.Imagine a world without Alexander Fleming's discovery of the antibiotic Penicillin!(we may argue about India having ideas about inoculation against diseases or about the soil containing some thing with which infections could be cured(look at Wikipedia,i can provide link if any one is interested)
Whether it is antibiotics or vaccines , insulins, anti hypertensives, hormones,antivirals or the surgical procedures,the list is endless for the invention of which we stand at the feet of modern medical science.
Since the beginning of human existence in India thousands of years ago till about 1930
the population of India was about 300 millions.It jumped to 1.2 billions in 2009 in spite of the population control measures.
The most sensitive health index-the infant mortality rate which was around 345 per 1000 live births in 1940 came down to around 15 to 25(lowest in Kerala and higher in states like Bihar).Maternal mortality came down to less than one per thousand deliveries.Diseases like Polio were almost eradicated with smallpox being totally eradicated from the face of the earth.Life expectancy at birth increased from 40 years in 1940 to 67 years today.It is no coincidence that this happened as the modern medicine developed the above mentioned tools like drugs and surgical procedures.
The much maligned Cesarean operation has reduced the incidence of would be mother dying at delivery to almost zero.And the greatest culprit of all as the various reports in the media would suggest,cardiac surgery has increased the quality of life of people who have had cardiac problem.
One may claim diseases like diabetes and heart ailments are on the increase.Yes,that is not because of medicine but because of reason beyond the control of doctors in the sense that the people themselves are responsible.Changed lifestyle is the primary reason for this spectacular increase.But it is still modern medicine that can do something to keep these under control and the patient from harms way.
I know defenders of alternate system of medicine will be at my throat for this,but let me assure you, without modern medicine which I refuse to call allopathy,we would be miserable.
There will be this matter to argue-modern medicine is too commercial.Yes,then which system is not?The basic idea behind practicing what you study is to earn a living.Just because I happened to study medicine i can not go for social service with no concern for my stomach.One can not work on empty one.
Whenever a new disease is discovered the market is flooded with cures from quacks and from alternate systems.And the discovery is by modern medicine and the miracle cure from the alternate system!If this is not because of commercial reason then what is? At least modern medicine is held responsible for commissions and omissions,alternate system is not.
Recently in this part of India we had an epidemic of chikungunya.We,practitioners of modern medicine know exactly what it is and how it can be managed.But no,we need this half baked systems telling us how to manage that particular problem!This year we have some cases of viral fever and again the press and these very same people are at it again.
OK,we have no proper cure for each viral disease(We do have anti viral treatment for many a virus) but if any branch of medicine can handle it modern medicine can.For the simple reason that it is the discovery of this system.
The so called defenders of Indian system including some Swamijis talk about the superiority of Indigenous medical practice being safe for all ailments!Without basic understanding of the issues involved they advocate the methods that suits their ulterior motives. And do you believe any medicine is free from side effects?Don't,because above normal even daily food has side effects.Try eating a couple of hundred grams of the commonly used Garlic!Or even quarter Kg. of sugar!
Do you know most of these practitioners use drugs like antibiotics and alarmingly, very potent steroids,of which they hardly have any knowledge, to achieve dramatic cures in all these viral disease?Isn't there any adverse outcome?Certainly there are but they go unreported!The reason is simple,
You know you have been foolish enough to approach quacks or people who are not supposed to use these drugs and you will hardly admit it was disastrous.And the person responsible is no way harmed.
In contrast if the outcome is adverse if a qualified person is involved people gang up and the person is harassed even if he did everything that could be done.People jump into concluding how greedy and careless the doctor was and so on and so forth.Newspapers immediately jump into the fray to condemn the person involved.What do these people know about modern medicine?Nothing.But they do have an opinion no matter what.
But ultimately it is the modern medicine that has the last laugh because it is the only system that tries to understand diseases.Modern medicine has description if not cure for all ailments.
The so called practitioners of alternate system study it not because they want to, but because of their inability to study modern medicine as the opportunity in India is limited.To establish a modern medical school it requires an elaborate infrastrucure in contrast to alternate system.The so called institutes teaching alternate systems are so numerous I wonder from where they even get faculty to teach!
Think about a patient with chest pain going to an Ayurvrdic physician.He is immediately sent to a cardiologist.That is when common sense should dictate that you go to a qualified modern medical practitioner for your needs.And if he decides it is nothing serious one can get treated by any system.
The standard explanation handed out by these alternate system is that for emergency modern medicine is needed and then they can take over.Why?Once the emergency is past there is no need for other system to take over.
In fact the proper alternate is that one should practice what is taught during studying and nothing else.And people with no qualification should be barred from declaring themselves"doctor"
The common man has to be vigilant.

(A bad case of smallpox)but for modern medicine some of us would have been like this had we survived an attack of smallpox!

Alternate Medicine

Quacks are at it again.Modern medicine discovers disease and these self styled doctors, the appropriate treatment.Don't you think they are great?(or cheats)

Homeopathy or Ayurveda knows no Chikungunya ,Dengue or Swine flu.I am sure all decent practitioners will agree with me.Right or wrong,safe or dangerous,it is modern medicine that describes all these diseases.And it is for them to find solutions for the same.And let me assure you, we are almost there.The day is not far when we will have vaccines for all these disease.

In fact a vaccine a vaccine was invented for chikungunya.Unfortunately for us, it was the naval infectious diseases research centre of the United States that did it.But, for the U S of A, a small epidemic in this part of India is not serious enough and there was no funding for human trial.The project was abandoned some time in 1999-2000.

Meanwhile the quacks will be at it again.Miracle cures,oils and injections will do rounds again.Remember some unscrupulous practitioners use steroids in the form of injections and that does all kinds of damage.Both literally and physically.

Beware,don't go to a doctor no known to you because a friend recommends.If a doctor has a miraculous cure for these fevers probably he is a fraud.Because medicine is not one persons monopoly.If one has all have access to that invention.Probably it is not safe and not used by all.

P.S:A quack is the one who practises medicine without studying it-like an Ayurvedic physician practising modern medicine or vice versa.(The picture on the left top is the Aedes mosquito that causes chikungunya)

Demanding

Like every other profession medicine also is commercialised.Otherwise why do you think people will practise it?Any professional has to live. Doctors have more responsibility than any other and how they work under pressure is unimaginable.The work load is so heavy and the schedule sometimes is so cramped that they have no time for personal life.And to add to this they are not allowed to make a single mistake.And the expectation is sky high.But they are also human beings and there is only so much that they can do.

People especially the media keeps on blaming doctors and the frequency is increasing these days.but what these people know about medicine?Nothing.And they write passing judgement without trial-guilty!

A lot has been written and is still being written about unnecessary Cesarean section operation.Does any body know what kind of responsibility a doctor has while having a pregnant woman on his hands to deliver her of the baby?The tension can be killing.You are bringing a life to the earth and the doctor has to take decision with making no delay.It is a no win situation.If it is a successful delivery,what's great about it?It happens every day.If it is not,you know what will be the outcome, irrespective of the reason,the doctor will be held responsible for the failure.Newspapers will be filled with the lapses on the part of the doctor.

The relatives concerned will question the decision for and against the particular procedure adopted.So the doctor rarely has many option in such situations.They go for Cesarean operation.And the procedure is very safe.Then where is the harm in opting for the safest alternative?It is always said in medicine that one should err on the safer side.

Take another example.Say, heart attack.Can anyone predict what will happen in the next hour when a patient has a cardiac problem?The answer is, no.what is the option in front of the treating doctor?Of course investigations.The technology is so advanced that it costs money.Medical proffesion is not about charity and they charge the patient,who else?And give value for money.more than value as one can not buy a life with the money paid to the doctor.

Let me explain,,recently I witnessed a free medical examination organised by a charity organisation.In a small village of about 5000 people, 4-5 thousand people had gathered.you know why,it was free and if required they were promising investigation and free surgery!No body said anything about the investigations were unnecessary, no, not even journalists.On the other hand i saw a couple of them opting for free investigation!

Now tell me whether it is spending money people are against or the investigations as such?

Just think of a person working for six and half days in a week and anticipating some or the other emergency on the other half day for week after week and thinking of the holiday that never comes?And the public expects no delay in getting treatment.You need superman not a doctor to work according to lay expectation!

Give them a break my dear friends.

And then there is the topic of money.With all the specialisations a doctor will be 30+when he/she starts earning and he/she has to make money.Nobody will look after a doctor simply because he did not save money while he could.Doctors like you and me can not work till eternity even though they need not retire.But when they can not work?When a doctor is ill who will spend for the treatment?Nobody will come to rescue.and for this they need money.

Don't ever think doctors are greedy.They too have needs like everyone else.

Before passing judgement on doctors think about the things you know nothing about.At least the lay man knows nothing about medical profession and they don't care to know.At least not in India where doctor bashing is becoming the order of the day.

Life of a doctor is not a bed of roses as is the general perception, except, in their own family.

Swine Flu

Swine flu is not deadly as being widely reported.Early recognition of the disease is of utmost important. There is absolutely no need for panic.And do not think all fevers are the same.Fever is a symptom that has to be diagnosed as to what is causing fever.Do not go to the chemist to buy medication without consulting your family doctor and never ignore fever.

Now that monsoon has set in it is time for mosquitos And that means Malaria and waterborne diseases.Viral fevers are also quite common.and in this part of India-coastal Karnataka chicken gunea and dengue is also to be expected.Chicken gune may not be widespread this year as it has affected people in a big way last year.Person once infected will not get that disease again.

Dengue is a possibility and local newspapers are at the guessing and judging game already.they have declared the fever as dengue.May be.So what?It is not a deadly disease as they write in kannada-ಮಾರಣಾಂತಿಕ ,it's another matter that they don't know the very meaning of the word.(it actually means fatal)

Except circulation they can not have any other motive but it actually scares people to death.Sometimes literally.

Another thing one should remember is the treatment given for these fevers are identical irrespective of whether public hospital or otherwise.

I saw last year people mistaking newspaper reports.ministers stated that the required medicine are available in government hospitals and they were right.But what people thought was that the medications were available only in government hospitals and there was panic.accepted it was debilitating but not fatal.but judgement day had indeed passed and it was declared that the authorities were hiding facts.

It is repeating this year too.But remember,Dengue is not fatal( ಮಾರಣಾಂತಿಕ ?)provided medical advise is sought at the earliest in case somebody has fever or any other disease for that matter.

One can approach his family doctor since he is equally qualified.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swine_flu_2009 this link has more on swine flu.

jokes

tax is fine4doing something right,fine is tax4doing something wrong!

basic idea

There was a time when the family used to visit a GP for all medical advise and treatment.the doctor used to be an elderly kind and knowledgeable and most importantly,dependable.

the times have changed.life today is on the fast lane.work can not wait,whether one is sick or healthy.there is a deadline.

once people get literate(differentiate from literate) they think they have right to express their opinion on every topic.they are right though.but when getting an opinion from a professional is concerned lay opinion has no place.

there is an oft repeated complaint in India that medical profession is no longer what it was and that it has gone really high tech.that doctors do not use their clinical acumen.partly true.

what about the patient?

Today people are too demanding.they have unrealistic ideas.

In India the alternate system also is very popular.but most of those practitioners do not practice their system with sincere devotion leading to a mixture of systems which is not good in the long run.

will write more before you start commenting which mostly will be hostile because i know i am treading over too many feet.

food

ಊಟ ಬಲ್ಲವನಿಗೆ ರೋಗವಿಲ್ಲ,ಮಾತು ಬಲ್ಲವನಿಗೆ ಜಗಳವಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂಬ ನಾಣ್ನುಡಿ ಎಷ್ಟು ಸತ್ಯ ಅಂತ ಅನ್ಸಿತು ಇವತ್ತು ಮದುವೆಯೊಂದಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗಿದ್ದಾಗ.

ನಾವೇನು ತಪ್ಪು ಮಾಡ್ತಿದ್ದೇವೆ ಊಟದ ವಿಷಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಂತ ತುಂಬಾ ದಿನದಿಂದ ಯೋಚನೆ ಮಾಡ್ತಿದ್ದೆ.

ನಮ್ಮ ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಒಂದು ದಿನಚರಿ ಅಂತ ರೂಢಿ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡಿರುತ್ತೇವೆ.ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗಿನ ತಿಂಡಿ ಮಧ್ಯಾನ್ನದ ಊಟ ಸಂಜೆಯ ತಿಂಡಿ ರಾತ್ರಿಯ ಊಟ ಇಷ್ಟು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನವರ ಆಹಾರದ ಕ್ರಮವಾಗಿರಬಹುದು.

ಯಾವುದೇ ಸಮಾರಂಭಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋದಾಗ ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ನಮ್ಮ ತಿಂಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಗಡಿಬಿಡಿಯಿಂದಾಗಿ ವ್ಯತ್ಯಾಸವಾಗಬಹುದು.ಮಧ್ಯಾನ್ನ ಊಟದ ಹೊತ್ತು ತುಂಬಾ ಮೀರಿ ಹೋಗುವ ಸಾಧ್ಯತೆಯೇ ಹೆಚ್ಚು.

ನಮ್ಮ ಶರೀರ ಮೊದಲೇ ನಮ್ಮ ದಿನಚರಿಗೆ ಒಗ್ಗಿ ಹೋಗಿರುತ್ತದೆ.ನಮ್ಮ ದಿನದ ಊಟದ ಹೊತ್ತಿಗೆ ಹಸಿವೆ ಆಗಿಯೇ ಆಗುತ್ತೆ.ನಮ್ಮ ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಜೀರ್ಣ ರಸದ ಉತ್ಪತ್ತಿ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾಗಿರುತ್ತದೆ.ಜೀರ್ಣ ರಸದ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಪಾಲು ತೀವ್ರವಾದ ಆಮ್ಲದಿಂದ ಕೂಡಿರುವ ಕಾರಣ ಆ ಹೊತ್ತಿಗೆ ಊಟ ಆಗದಿದ್ದರೆ ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಯ ಒಳ ಪದರ ಕೊರೆತ ಶುರುವಾಗಿ ಹುಣ್ಣಿಗೆ ಕಾರಣವಾಗಬಹುದು.ಅದಿಲ್ಲವಾದರೂ ಹುಳಿ ತೇಗು ,ಅಜೀರ್ಣ ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳು ಉಂಟಾಗಬಹುದು.

ಹೊತ್ತು ತಪ್ಪಿದರೆ ಜೀರ್ಣ ರಸ ಸಣ್ಣ ಕರುಳಿಗೆ ದಾಟಿ ಬಿಡಬಹುದು.ಆಮೇಲೆ ತಿಂದ ಆಹಾರ ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹುಳಿ ಬಂದು ಅಜೀರ್ಣವಂತೂ ಕಟ್ಟಿಟ್ಟ ಬುತ್ತಿ.

ಸರಿ,ತಡವಾಗಿದ್ದೇನೋ ಆಯಿತು,ಊಟದ ವಿಚಾರ ನೋಡಿ.

ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಆನ್ನ,ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಸಾರು,ಸಾಂಬಾರು,ಹುಳಿ,ಪಾಯಸ,ಒಂದೆರಡು ಹೋಳಿಗೆ ಅಥವಾ ಇನ್ನೇನೋ ಸಿಹಿ ತಿಂಡಿ,ಕೊನೆಗೊಂದಿಷ್ಟು ಮೊಸರನ್ನದ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಒಂದಿಷ್ಟು ಉಪ್ಪಿನಕಾಯಿ.ಅಲ್ಪ ಯೋಚನೆ ಮಾಡಿ, ಇವೆಲ್ಲಾ ಸೇರಿದರೆ ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಯೊಳಗೆ ಏನಾಗಬಹುದು!

ಒಂದು ಬಟ್ಟಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಇವನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ ಮಿಶ್ರ ಮಾಡಿ ನೋಡಿ,ಆಮೇಲೆ ನೀವು ಊಟ ಮಾಡಿದರೆ ಹೇಳಿ!

ಈಗಂತೂ buffet ಇಲ್ಲದ ಸಮಾರಂಭ ಇಲ್ಲವೆಂದೇ ಹೇಳಬಹುದು.ಹಳ್ಳಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಇರಬಹುದು ಅಪರೂಪಕ್ಕೊಂದು.ಅದು ಅಷ್ಟು ತೊಂದರೆ ಕೊಡಲಾರದು.

ಹಾಗಾಗಿ ನಾವು ನಮಗೆ ಅಂದರೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಶರೀರಕ್ಕೆ ಬೇಕಾದದ್ದು ಬೇಕಾದಷ್ಟೇ ತಿನ್ನಲು ಯಾವುದೇ ಅಡ್ಡಿ ಇರಲಾರದಷ್ಟೇ.

ನಮ್ಮ ನಾಲಗೆಯ ನಿಗ್ರಹ ನಮ್ಮ ಕೈಯಲ್ಲಿದೆ.

ಕೊನೆಗೊಂದು ಮಾತು.ಊಟ ಮಾಡಿ ಐಸ್ಕ್ರೀಂ ತಿನ್ನಲೇ ಬೇಡಿ.ನಿಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಕರೆದವರ ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ನೋವೇನೂ ಆಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ.ಅವರೂ ಇದೇ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ ಒಂದಲ್ಲ ಒಂದು ಬಾರಿ ಎದುರಿಸಿರುತ್ತಾರೆ!

jokes

ಡಾಕ್ಟರ:ಕಿವಿಯೊಳಗೆ ಹಲ್ಲಿ ಹೋಗುವ ವರೆಗೆ ಎನ್ಮಾಡ್ತಿದ್ದೆ

ರೋಗಿ:ಮೊದಲು ಸೊಳ್ಳೆ ಹೋಯ್ತು.ಹಲ್ಲಿ ಹೋಗಿ ಹಿಡ್ಕೊಂಡು ವಾಪಸ್ ಬರುತ್ತೆ ಬಿಡಿ ಅಂತ ಸುಮ್ನಿದ್ದೆ.

--

Approach

The definition of health in modern medicine is word by word translation of the Ayurvedic system.It says"Health is the complete physical,mental and social wellbeing,not merely the absence of desease" Why then that everytime we see an article anywhere the authors comment about modern medicine treating desease and not the person?
The answer is not hard to guess.
The origin of modern medicine is rooted in Ayurveda which was taken out of India and then they worked on the knowledge gained from there.And why not,knowledge should benefit the public,not any individual.
And hence developped the modern system of medicine which was standardised.New knowledge developped due to the continued reaserch carried out by the western scientists which they are doing even now.(to a certain extent scientists from other countries)
I have nothing against any system of medicine so long as it benefits mankind.Unfortunately research in alternate system of medicine is limited to say the least for whatever reason.Then how to decide which system to opt for?
In any ailment the primary concern has to be the proper diagnosis.Unfortunately for this investigations are must.Looking at the patient no physician can rightly diagnose unless it is a minor ailment which will be cured without any help from the physician.On the other hand if it happens to be anything serious, who is to diagnose?
Let us face the facts,right now we have this fecility only in modern medicine.And one has to go for it,whether he likes it or not.After the fact,
who is to interpret the results?Naturally a person qualified in the perticular system and after that has been settled comes the treatment part.
If one decides to go for any other form of treatment he should be certainly given a choice with clear explanation of the consequences should the choice of the patient is not suitable for the desease.But can the patient decide the future course of treatment?I think not.That is where
the primary care physician should intervene.(Regarding primary care physician in next installment.)

Primary Care

India today is at cross roads.We are fast developing people.It is like being neither here nor there,I mean we are educationally quite advanced in pockets like southern Karnataka.But unfortunately we are only literates,not all,though.Many people with no college education are more sensible that they know when to consult professionals.Many with postgraduate qualifications think they know something about everything and mess things up.
Medicine is one field where one will regret such action because what is good for me need not be so for the other person.
Every one of us have visited a doctor in our life. In the past,it used to be a local GP.Whatever he used to advise was like scripture.He used to be a friend,philosopher and guide as described in text books of medicine. Slowly we advanced and had all types of specialist doctors in our midst,that lay public started deciding whom to consult,which in the past used to be decided by the local family doctor.This is when things started to go wrong.
I am not suggesting one should not go to a specialist but before that his local doctor should be consulted and preferably give a reference so that you go to the right person and he has some idea as to from where to start,else if you approach a wrong specialist he may not be in a position to do justice to the case.
For example take a case of pain abdomen(stomach ache).It may just be just an ordinary pain or serious ailment like appendicitis where early intervention by a surgeon will save lot of complications,both physical,psychological and financial.
I get all types of questions,from people who have been coming to me for all their health needs. Children become adults and take a job in a new place where they feel lost.They find it difficult in a new place when it comes to the selection of a primary care physician.It is easy really.You may be wondering how so.Let me explain-when you need to see a doctor,go to any qualified person and explain your problem,on the other hand you can ask your previous doctor for a recommendation(many a times it so happens that your family doctor knows someone there).Make it very clear to him that you do not expect any miracles,that you are ready to undergo required tests to felicitate diagnosis and that you are ready to spend reasonably.Because we doctors encounter all sorts of people in day to day practice(it has been my experience-many people simply do not want to pay the doctor assuming he has made enough to need anything more!)Many diseases can not be clinically diagnosed and need some clinical tests.And when a doctor orders those tests people think they are being fleeced.Hardly so,because the doctor expects the patients back!And finally when he does prescribe something ask him whether you really need those medicines.Now you will tell me the doctor is awfully busy to explain,never so.On the other hand he will and should be pleased because too much expectation by the patients make the doctors to overprescribe.And if the doctor concerned is really annoyed please tell him politely that it is your health you are worried about.It is your right and his duty.And never go to him again.There are bad apples in every barrel.
One thing every one of us should understand is that there is no fast cure.It depends on the disease,and one particular doctor can't do any better than the the other.And remember there is no medicine that is "strong",medicines are either necessary or not.If necessary,however strong it may look, it is not.
You may be busy but so is the doctor.If you are in a hurry and tell the the doctor that you have no time to rest, he may not be able to help you.If you want proper care you got to spend some time and money,after all it your health.
Think about it.(dos and don'ts with doctors in the next post)

food

The definition of health in modern medicine is word by word translation of the Ayurvedic system.It says"Health is the complete physical,mental and social wellbeing,not merely the absence of desease" Why then that everytime we see an article anywhere the authors comment about modern medicine treating desease and not the person?

The answer is not hard to guess.

The origin of modern medicine is rooted in Ayurveda which was taken out of India and then they worked on the knowledge gained from there.And why not,knowledge should benefit the public,not any individual.

And hence developped the modern system of medicine which was standardised.New knowledge developped due to the continued reaserch carried out by the western scientists which they are doing even now.(to a certain extent scientists from other countries)

I have nothing against any system of medicine so long as it benefits mankind.Unfortunately research in alternate system of medicine is limited to say the least for whatever reason.Then how to decide which system to opt for?

In any ailment the primary concern has to be the proper diagnosis.Unfortunately for this investigations are must.Looking at the patient no physician can rightly diagnose unless it is a minor ailment which will be cured without any help from the physician.On the other hand if it happens to be anything serious, who is to diagnose?

Let us face the facts,right now we have this fecility only in modern medicine.And one has to go for it,whether he likes it or not.After the fact,

who is to interpret the results?Naturally a person qualified in the perticular system and after that has been settled comes the treatment part.

If one decides to go for any other form of treatment he should be certainly given a choice with clear explanation of the consequences should the choice of the patient is not suitable for the desease.But can the patient decide the future course of treatment?I think not.That is where

the primary care physician should intervene.(Regarding primary care physician in next installment.)

????????

Sardar received an sms"Sender is cool,reader is fool"Sardar got angry at the insult and replied "Reader is cool,sender is fool"!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't

Doctors are human beings just like you and me.They do have family life.They too have private life.They too get tired and hungry.
Most of the patients do not realize this basic fact.Of course they don't need to because they are sick and that is the reason they go to doctors.True.
Once I was eating lunch at a restaurant.An educated man who is a regular of mine joined my table and started showing an infected wound full of pus right there!I am a doctor,no arguing about it but I am a human being too,and I too have sense of hygiene and like to eat in a clean surroundings.He had done the damage.It was a no win situation,protest I am damned keep quiet and the same.I stopped eating and even today if I remember that incident while eating I retch.Please have mercy.
A doctor attends a function like any other man,do not convert the wedding hall into a consulting room.Whenever you have a problem ask him when he will be available.Now that communication is no longer a problem that is the least you can do.
No doubt you pay for his service but remember that you don't own him.
After you think you are well,report your status,for he may continue your treatment for some more days and it is only reasonable that he may want to know what happened with his treatment.
Know his timings. Go well in advance so that he may get out at his appointed hour.It is another matter in emergencies.
I have seen patients coming to me during my lunch hour and claim they were in the vicinity and so dropped in!
If you have a doctor as your neighbor don't go and knock his door at inconvenient times for small problems.Ask him beforehand whether he will see you at home.By going to the house of a doctor except in emergencies puts the doctors' family in danger of catching your disease if it is indeed communicable.I always get mortally afraid when a person with communicable disease comes to my house,especially during examination season as i too have a college going son!
If possible wish your family doctor on important days because he is the last person to come to any one's mind except during an illness.
If you consider your doctor as a human being first,I think he surely will reciprocate and it will be mutually beneficial.
Happy living.

Did U Know

Did you know-

1.That the qintessential tetanus injections routinely administered after injury can not prevent tetanus?

Yes.To prevent tetanus you need to take tetanus antitoxin which is not usually given.The best thing to do is to get immunized against tetanus if you are not already immunized.The routine tetanus toxoid that is administered needs a couple of weeks to start acting and till then it can not protect you against tetanus.

What is the solution?

Get yourselves immunized beforehand(that is the meaning of immunization)

Anybody under 40yrs. should have received primary immunization.After the tetanus toxoid that is given at 15 years one should get it every 5 years.Lack of guidance and enough diligence on your part is the reason for not being immunized.Ask your GP about your status.And do not forget to properly immunize your children.

2.That typhoid can be prevented?

Certainly.An injection every 3 years can do it and it is not as expensive as you think as it would be and far more economical than the treatment.

People living in big cities are prone to get this infection if they do not watch what they eat.And they do not!

Typhoid spreads through contaminated water and so is jaundice.

3.That jaundice can be prevented?

The hepatitis B vaccine can not prevent the commonly seen jaundice because the common jaundice is Hepatitis A! (One must take this vaccine because once it attacks it runs a prolonged course)

3.That chicken pox can be prevented?

A vaccine can prevent chickenpox.

And it can be effectively be treated by an antiviral drug that is easily available.It can be cured in a couple of days if seen by a qualified doctor and detected early.Even some qualified doctors do not use those drugs,because once the patient realizes that he has chickenpox the usual practice is to seek traditional healers who make your life hell by their diet and the duration of treatment.

4.That of herpes is no deadly disease?

Yes,it is indeed caused by a virus that is similar to chickenpox virus! And it can be effectively treated the same way as chickenpox,believe me.There is absolutely no reason to believe the stories that it is fatal.it is NOT!You need not seek those traditional healers and undergo the torture of their restrictions.The treatment is only for a week or so unless you are late in seeking treatment.

Have a healthy life.

jokes

A frog tells sardar"all sardars are fools"

Sardar-we are not fools.

Frog-it is useless to talk to you and jumps into water.

Sardar muses" ees mein suicide karne ki kya baat hai"

weigh option

In India we have advanced technology which is far ahead of it's time.Our educational institutions are world class.Our hospitals have the best facilities.We have very fine automobiles on our roads.But I do not think we are socially ready to adopt all these.We are in no position to integrate this development in our daily life.We lack scientific temper,social courtesy and commitment to our profession.

We should be happy that our hospitals are of world class.But are we really ready for that?I think not.Initially we must set our priorities right.Just because the facility is there it doesn't mean to say we must use it in every single occasion.Of course it may sound insensitive,it is not.

Think of a scenario.A nephew of mine gets hurt in a small accident.I know it is not much.But not our orthopaedic surgeon.He admits the boy in the high tech hospital to administer an antibiotic for the infection which is not there.Then why does he do so?It has nothing to do with medicine but administration.Simply put the concerned person has not fulfilled his quota of admissions and the hospital has not received the revenue it is due to it.The doctor is under pressure!This is technology for you.

We can not blame the hospital for this.The facility requires huge investments with real estate prices being what it is.To establish a hospital is no small job.Having invested millions on buildings and equipment it is only natural that they do deserve revenue.But is this the way?

In this kind of a situation one is forced to do it because the institution has to servive.And it has less people who can afford the cost .The solution is in finding the means to pay the required medical bill.

As a matter of fact in western countries or even in the middle east they have well established social security schemes so that in times of need a person can depend upon getting proper care irrespective of his finance.But here in India we have no such thing but insurance.That every one does not have it is a grave concern.

On one hand we have wonderful technology and on the other the common man can not afford it.It is a dilemma and ultimately a person who can afford the cost is made to pay just because he can. It is time that we started asserting our rights.Just before starting on a procedure in the hospitals we need to make it absolutely sure that the situation needs it.One can go for even a second opinion, through his primary care physician, who certainly will be happy to guide, if informed before taking a decision regarding the procedure.

We need technology but more than that we need discretion.

Any suggestions?