“For patients, doctors are next to the God, conversely, patients being the mysterious God to doctors.” I remember this quote by a famous person I had read in a magazine during my schooling. After so many years, during short course of these two years in medical college, I can feel the heavyness of these words.
Like God, patient’s body is a mystery to be solved. Solving this mystery, the doctor’s emotional state and their way of dealing with their own emotions have been playing a critical role. Such emotions have been continuously expressing difficulties in revealing sensitive information to their patients, affecting medical decisionmaking and ultimately affecting the whole physical outcome.
If doctors attach themselves emotionally, their feelings for the pat ients will suffer from the resulting lack of judgement. If every medical professional gets emotional with patients then we would have blabbering Doctors walking around, not making clear conscious decisions. They have to separate themselves from their patients in order to do their jobs. This is what keeps them sane. Besides if they took on every emotional task with every patient that came into their office or hospital especially if that patient was dying, then the doctor would not be able to function after sometime. He/She would end up taking it home.
Feelings seem to add an important dimension of complexity to doctors. It has been seen that doctors attending patients, when get emotionally attached to them, then that makes them more vulnerable to feelings of loss when these patients die. Studies have shown that junior doctors may be more strongly affected by patient’s death than senior doctors and female doctors report more psychological distress than male doctors indicating that female doctors and interns may require more emotional support after patient’s death. By this, I don’t mean doctors and other medical professionals should be cold and heartless, but they have to maintain a certain distance from their patients in order to keep going on a daily basis.
The medical profession is definitely no walk in the park, even though it is really rewarding and in addition to the miracles, they see a lot of tragedy. Also, when a patient is sick, the doctor should not be over emotional and panicky. They should be able to think straight so that they can give the best care possible and they have to put on a brave face for their patient. They must learn to control their emotions in order to do their job.
Same thing goes for many very, very professional music teachers. Many people who take up music and really feel their music so much that it becomes part of their soul.They go crazy over expressing their emotions in their music. But since they are teachers, they cannot let out their emotions in front of their students’.
Doctors should be more serious about performing their work and saving the patient than being nice and emotional. It is very hard for anyone to make critical time sensitive decisions when they let emotions get involved. Doctors must make an effort to keep from ever getting emotionally attached in order to make the life saving decisions needed.
A hospital is a sad place. If every doctor got upset and started crying over every sad case there would be no more doctors. If patient was dying and doctor came in to tell but then all of a sudden he started crying, wouldn’t that seem a bit wrong? Doctors are regular people just like everybody else. If they don’t learn to train themselves not to cry over every patient that would just be pitiful. What would one think if he/she saw their doctor read their chart and start crying? Caring for dying patients is part of every doctor’s clinical experience both during training and in subsequent practice. In every case, good of the patient should be the highest priority, not the feelings of the own. To deliver the best care, the doctors should not let emotions interfere with their decisions. They must be level-headed, detached, tough but all the while caring. The best care comes from a doctor who looks at a patient as a mathematician looks at a complicated equation.
Thank you!
– Prakash Chand
2007 Batch,RIMS,Ranchi
Monday, August 23, 2010
“Fashion Underneath the White Apron”
Disclaimer 1 : No comments about teachers,(you can double check) coz — (i) I wanna Pass,(ii) Not that they’d be reading this, (iii) What’s there to write about anyway, oops!
Disclaimer 2 : This is a work of fiction and any resemblance to the living or undead could very well be true.
Fashion and the medical profession don’t really make the best of friends. Let’s start off with what really distinguishes us lot from the rest — Aprons; A big part of our metamorphosis into Med. School students from the obscure of a medical aspirant.When you are a fresher here, the apron is your lone saviour — the only piece of clothing you’ve put that doesn’t send on-lookers into a hysterical fit of laughter. So here comes along the juniormost — hair dipped in mustard oil (10-20 dips), the length of hair maintained according to a stringent set of rules, set by “Bosses” who have an immaculate sense of diagnosing if someone crossed the limit by 10-3 of an inch.The white overalls underneath the apron isn’t any more fashionable than your average DAV 6th grader, and at least he’s allowed a belt and a better looking Tie.From the 2nd year students to the interns, you got pretty much the same dress code —Jeans & Tees. Trousers faded in all sorts of designs and places even embroidered (and men wearing them) the wardrobe picked up from all the “70% + 20%” off outlets at a handy 500 bucks (you go figure the original MRP) of course. There are variations, you know like the sudden surge in fashion graphs, the 1st year students create after surviving. The “Under Ragging Fashion Depression Syndrome”.Rock band tees are in vogue these days (Bon jovi to Bob Marrey, RHCP to megadeth).
All of this about casual wear. Well, at parties and such occasions, you’d see tuxedoes and churidar dresses (isn’t that way it’s called?) as well. A special mention about the females here. They are more often not that (not you, dear) bland ....... you judge them fashion-wise. And with the “Underneath the apron” heading of this article, they hardly qualify ‘coz they’re perennially hidden under the white coat and if they did not take it off in the 45°C temp. we got this summer, you never expect them to (“we are here to become doctors, Mr. wiseguy”.) Fine, whatever “suits” ya. PGs now — formals or casuals, they seem to be well dressed all the time (something to do with the 6th pay scale, I reckon). The stethos are entwined in different looks — “The snake around the neck” N’ “Earphone” look is also in. I better shut up, I’m beginning to sound like a fashion designer, yuck!
– Dushyant
2007 Batch,RIMS,Ranchi
Disclaimer 2 : This is a work of fiction and any resemblance to the living or undead could very well be true.
Fashion and the medical profession don’t really make the best of friends. Let’s start off with what really distinguishes us lot from the rest — Aprons; A big part of our metamorphosis into Med. School students from the obscure of a medical aspirant.When you are a fresher here, the apron is your lone saviour — the only piece of clothing you’ve put that doesn’t send on-lookers into a hysterical fit of laughter. So here comes along the juniormost — hair dipped in mustard oil (10-20 dips), the length of hair maintained according to a stringent set of rules, set by “Bosses” who have an immaculate sense of diagnosing if someone crossed the limit by 10-3 of an inch.The white overalls underneath the apron isn’t any more fashionable than your average DAV 6th grader, and at least he’s allowed a belt and a better looking Tie.From the 2nd year students to the interns, you got pretty much the same dress code —Jeans & Tees. Trousers faded in all sorts of designs and places even embroidered (and men wearing them) the wardrobe picked up from all the “70% + 20%” off outlets at a handy 500 bucks (you go figure the original MRP) of course. There are variations, you know like the sudden surge in fashion graphs, the 1st year students create after surviving. The “Under Ragging Fashion Depression Syndrome”.Rock band tees are in vogue these days (Bon jovi to Bob Marrey, RHCP to megadeth).
All of this about casual wear. Well, at parties and such occasions, you’d see tuxedoes and churidar dresses (isn’t that way it’s called?) as well. A special mention about the females here. They are more often not that (not you, dear) bland ....... you judge them fashion-wise. And with the “Underneath the apron” heading of this article, they hardly qualify ‘coz they’re perennially hidden under the white coat and if they did not take it off in the 45°C temp. we got this summer, you never expect them to (“we are here to become doctors, Mr. wiseguy”.) Fine, whatever “suits” ya. PGs now — formals or casuals, they seem to be well dressed all the time (something to do with the 6th pay scale, I reckon). The stethos are entwined in different looks — “The snake around the neck” N’ “Earphone” look is also in. I better shut up, I’m beginning to sound like a fashion designer, yuck!
– Dushyant
2007 Batch,RIMS,Ranchi
The Art of Proxy
Common bunking, birdwatching, gossiping comments besides all these proxies form an inevitable part of college memories of a student. Proxies are no less than oxygen to the students asphyxiating in between the boring lectures. Apart from these, the amount of daring heart it takes and the excitement it begets (if successfully delivered) is uncomparable. An experienced eye can easily recognise it as a form of art which has gracefully continued through generations. Even our so called strict professors would have done that at their age. Apart from being a brave heart, successful proxy requires a high level of alertness. A slight incautiousness can shift your position outside the class. The risk (of being caught) get drastically reduced o n c e y o u c o n u a l yourself in the shadow of guy in the front. Closing mouth with palm while performing the act is equally beneficial. Stand and deliver has never been the dictum unless compelled by the professor. Some highly professional ones take special care to alter their voices after each consecutive proxy. Just changing the tone from “Yes Sir” to “Present Sir” is enough to mislead the experienced ears most of the time. A single dedicated individual is enough to make multiple proxies once he gets on the podium to take attendance. Some even return with 100% attendance to their credit. While making proxy, your credit is also at stake. An outstanding guy (at least in the eye of professor) can easily end standing out within a matter of minutes. The moment, two individuals stand for a single roll call, the condition becomes disastrous. The professional ones have still the way out. You just have to utter some time tested magical words at appropriate juncture. One can try “I thought you told thirty one and not twenty one or “I heard... it as 40 not 14”. But the less fortunate ones are still shown the door. One of the rarest case is when a girl get caught for proxy.Actually there persists some form of gender bias in the favour of girls. Root cause being the misconception in professors mind that they are too innocent for such (courageous) act. Whereas each and every boy’s call is scrutinized wi th unforeseen suspision, girls carry on the expertise (proxy) unnoticed.
Our professor s also differ strikingly in their approach towards proxy. Many just have natural tendency to neglect them and become active only when they hear two voices for a single roll call. In the other hemispheres are those innovative ones who develop irresistible urge to remember almost each student by name & roll no. Another sophisticated weapon routinely used is and is really lethal to this form of incredible art is positive attendance. One can easily hear the gasp of despair when someone earlier known for regular attendance suddenly starts torely on positive one. Another risky venture for the daring ones are the periods of HOD’s (spl. micro). A general notion prevails th at once you get caught by an HOD, you can get rewarded by a heavy discount on your internal assessment marks.
Proxies are arranged (who will hit whose) just five minutes before attendance. Successful delivery of proxy of at least 10 students within such short span of time is an excellent example of human resource management. Alas! proxies or perpetual hide and seek game between professor and students in which the latter are usual winners (courtesy our professors).
– Abhishek Pandit
2007 Batch,RIMS,Ranchi
Our professor s also differ strikingly in their approach towards proxy. Many just have natural tendency to neglect them and become active only when they hear two voices for a single roll call. In the other hemispheres are those innovative ones who develop irresistible urge to remember almost each student by name & roll no. Another sophisticated weapon routinely used is and is really lethal to this form of incredible art is positive attendance. One can easily hear the gasp of despair when someone earlier known for regular attendance suddenly starts torely on positive one. Another risky venture for the daring ones are the periods of HOD’s (spl. micro). A general notion prevails th at once you get caught by an HOD, you can get rewarded by a heavy discount on your internal assessment marks.
Proxies are arranged (who will hit whose) just five minutes before attendance. Successful delivery of proxy of at least 10 students within such short span of time is an excellent example of human resource management. Alas! proxies or perpetual hide and seek game between professor and students in which the latter are usual winners (courtesy our professors).
– Abhishek Pandit
2007 Batch,RIMS,Ranchi
Ragging Days : Life was Beautiful
Ragging Days : Life was Beautiful
No, it was not the 1st day of campus,certainly not. It was two or three days later of my first introduction to campus. Some of those guys caught hold of my neck and took me with them. The path they took to arrive at a very famous station called Marine Drive was a thrilling one. It gave me a feeling of some kind of adventure that you can think about ‘Harry Potter’ without any ..... b/w thighs. It was like the trailor of a movie, and the movie was going to start. Camera/Roll/Action.
Seniors started their questionnaire round. It was a kind of Bournvita Quiz Contest consisting of only one round ‘Rapid Fire’. Awards were also of unique nature. If you gave a wrong answer, you were turned to be in cock position and if you were smart enough to come up with a correct answer, the nature of award was again the same. 1st question that rolled to me was “Who is the most beautiful babe in your batch?” It was a surprize for me in two ways. First it was my 1st day in campus and I hadn’t seen many of them and second I am very shy when it comes to girls. “Boss, none of them”. They acted reflexly, “Buffalo, be in cock position. Do you think yourself as ‘Brad Pitt’ searching for ‘Angelina Jolie’?” Later, I came to know that all were vomiting out the same name ‘Kamini’ (Name changed).So I mugged it up for next time but the problem was I didn’t know her by face, which turned out be an another nightmare for me as I was not able to recognize her. S o m e o f m y batchmates reacted to it and said that seniors are behaving like ox. I opposed. Yes, they may have a pair of imaginable horns on their head looking after us, but they do have a horn which is not
a dysfunctional one, so it is better to call them bull rather than ox.
Another incident happened with me – an interesting one. One of my seniors asked me what’s the full form of ‘PMT’? Answer came naturally to me ‘Pre Medical Test’. They said not this one. Then I tried to be smart and said Pre Mature Testicles’, and all of a sudden they started laughing. Later I came to know that it was ‘Pia Milan Tree'
Most fascinating part of all this mess was being ragged by senior girls. We were always informed in advance and to full surprise their used to be almost no absenties. We were always happy to see the girls in jeans and colourful tops, rather than our she-batchmates in white dresses. I had always likes for the girls with their hair open rather than being tied like a wagging tail, and a green ribbon flurring along with it. So the day arrived, one ma’am asked me to dance. Now that was a pitiful situation for me. I had never danced before, but it was a request in form of an order. So, I tried some of the steps for which even MJ would have given a thought. I was promised a treat but I never got one. Ma’am if you are reading this, then try to fulfill your promise, and I am looking for a date.
Seniors kept us fit (physically) through roof-top Kabaddi. Seniors used to see us as superhumans. So they turned us into supermen. If Tolstoy would have been alive, he would have been very happy to know that some people in one corner of the world were trying to turn his fictional character (from Man into Superman) into a living legend.
In the course of all these nonsense and stupid things, I was made to do some sensible things, I had to propose a girl. I did it in a mystical way. She was not happy, but I was.After all which girl likes a fat guy except some cases torn apart. It was a good day for me, atleast for the 1st time I opened my heart to some one. We were given some beautiful definitions describing human body to remember. How can I forget the oath we took on the last night of our ragging period? This whole period was full of humour, missing your classes for nothing and still being happy. In bargain we also won the blind supports of our seniors and unity we all RIMSONIANS share with each other. A fact about us is ‘United we stand and we can not be divided’.
Life always looks beautiful in colourful frames, but the most wild and beautiful things we carry are memories, which are always black and white, the costliest possession we have. I would like to say that my batch does have some good girls. Couple of our female batchmates have been already booked by our seniors and what are we left with contains only supernatants. Amidst all these things I must tell you that one of my friends proposed one girl in the same batch and it has already been accepted. After so many days, we really miss our ragging days. Those beautiful days which can not be forgotten. The memories are still fresh with us. After completion of 1 year in college, the new batch arrived and this time we grabbed the hot seat of Quiz Master with the same question ‘Who is the most beautiful babe in your batch?”
– Gita Bipin Chandra
2007 Batch RIMS,Ranchi
No, it was not the 1st day of campus,certainly not. It was two or three days later of my first introduction to campus. Some of those guys caught hold of my neck and took me with them. The path they took to arrive at a very famous station called Marine Drive was a thrilling one. It gave me a feeling of some kind of adventure that you can think about ‘Harry Potter’ without any ..... b/w thighs. It was like the trailor of a movie, and the movie was going to start. Camera/Roll/Action.
Seniors started their questionnaire round. It was a kind of Bournvita Quiz Contest consisting of only one round ‘Rapid Fire’. Awards were also of unique nature. If you gave a wrong answer, you were turned to be in cock position and if you were smart enough to come up with a correct answer, the nature of award was again the same. 1st question that rolled to me was “Who is the most beautiful babe in your batch?” It was a surprize for me in two ways. First it was my 1st day in campus and I hadn’t seen many of them and second I am very shy when it comes to girls. “Boss, none of them”. They acted reflexly, “Buffalo, be in cock position. Do you think yourself as ‘Brad Pitt’ searching for ‘Angelina Jolie’?” Later, I came to know that all were vomiting out the same name ‘Kamini’ (Name changed).So I mugged it up for next time but the problem was I didn’t know her by face, which turned out be an another nightmare for me as I was not able to recognize her. S o m e o f m y batchmates reacted to it and said that seniors are behaving like ox. I opposed. Yes, they may have a pair of imaginable horns on their head looking after us, but they do have a horn which is not
a dysfunctional one, so it is better to call them bull rather than ox.
Another incident happened with me – an interesting one. One of my seniors asked me what’s the full form of ‘PMT’? Answer came naturally to me ‘Pre Medical Test’. They said not this one. Then I tried to be smart and said Pre Mature Testicles’, and all of a sudden they started laughing. Later I came to know that it was ‘Pia Milan Tree'
Most fascinating part of all this mess was being ragged by senior girls. We were always informed in advance and to full surprise their used to be almost no absenties. We were always happy to see the girls in jeans and colourful tops, rather than our she-batchmates in white dresses. I had always likes for the girls with their hair open rather than being tied like a wagging tail, and a green ribbon flurring along with it. So the day arrived, one ma’am asked me to dance. Now that was a pitiful situation for me. I had never danced before, but it was a request in form of an order. So, I tried some of the steps for which even MJ would have given a thought. I was promised a treat but I never got one. Ma’am if you are reading this, then try to fulfill your promise, and I am looking for a date.
Seniors kept us fit (physically) through roof-top Kabaddi. Seniors used to see us as superhumans. So they turned us into supermen. If Tolstoy would have been alive, he would have been very happy to know that some people in one corner of the world were trying to turn his fictional character (from Man into Superman) into a living legend.
In the course of all these nonsense and stupid things, I was made to do some sensible things, I had to propose a girl. I did it in a mystical way. She was not happy, but I was.After all which girl likes a fat guy except some cases torn apart. It was a good day for me, atleast for the 1st time I opened my heart to some one. We were given some beautiful definitions describing human body to remember. How can I forget the oath we took on the last night of our ragging period? This whole period was full of humour, missing your classes for nothing and still being happy. In bargain we also won the blind supports of our seniors and unity we all RIMSONIANS share with each other. A fact about us is ‘United we stand and we can not be divided’.
Life always looks beautiful in colourful frames, but the most wild and beautiful things we carry are memories, which are always black and white, the costliest possession we have. I would like to say that my batch does have some good girls. Couple of our female batchmates have been already booked by our seniors and what are we left with contains only supernatants. Amidst all these things I must tell you that one of my friends proposed one girl in the same batch and it has already been accepted. After so many days, we really miss our ragging days. Those beautiful days which can not be forgotten. The memories are still fresh with us. After completion of 1 year in college, the new batch arrived and this time we grabbed the hot seat of Quiz Master with the same question ‘Who is the most beautiful babe in your batch?”
– Gita Bipin Chandra
2007 Batch RIMS,Ranchi
Cadaver Experience
Cadaver Experience
No experience has a more profound impact on medical students than their first encounter with a dead body. Like other medical students, I came across a cadaver during my first-year course in Gross Anatomy.I vividly remember my first day in dissection hall. Before I entered the dissection hall, I had a very different view about a cadaver.I thought i t to be somewhat similar to a normal body with flesh still on it. But,I was wrong. It was hard, rough, and dry. That was not all. It even smelled nasty, and whenever I brought my eyes close to it, they would be filled with tears.Despite the disgust involved with it, I had an amazing experience of dissecting different parts of a cadaver. I first dissected lower limb. Though it was difficult using scalpel and forceps to dissect at first, I got quite good at it in the course of a few days. In the course of dissection, I thought that the Anatomy book (Cunningham) proved quite helpful.Despite the difficulty involved in dissecting a cadaver, it was a great learning experience for me. It was difficult for me to dissect face, hand,and genitals. This was probably because I was quite emotional. In addition, it was difficult to trace the course of nerves and arteries. But, it was quite exciting to find out how these nerves and arteries branched out to different parts of the body. Above all, this experience was crucial in understanding the subject matter beyond the text book.
Besides these, it was an excellent way of working as a group.Whenever we learnt about a new thing, we wo u l d s h a r e amongst ourselves.For example, it was great fun, matching different parts of the cadaver mentioned in our text book to the real parts in the cadaver in front of us. In a way, it was a great fun and at the same time it was vital in expanding our knowledge i n anatomy. E v e n t h o u g h anatomical dissection is a wonderful part of medical education, it is not devoid of cont roversy. I t i s surrounded by ethical issues. Despite the ethical concerns, I believe cadavers are great teachers to any anatomy student. And I thank my cadaver for teaching me what I am supposed to understand in anatomy in order to use this knowledge for some noble cause.
– Nandan Choudhary
2007 Batch,RIMS,ranchi
No experience has a more profound impact on medical students than their first encounter with a dead body. Like other medical students, I came across a cadaver during my first-year course in Gross Anatomy.I vividly remember my first day in dissection hall. Before I entered the dissection hall, I had a very different view about a cadaver.I thought i t to be somewhat similar to a normal body with flesh still on it. But,I was wrong. It was hard, rough, and dry. That was not all. It even smelled nasty, and whenever I brought my eyes close to it, they would be filled with tears.Despite the disgust involved with it, I had an amazing experience of dissecting different parts of a cadaver. I first dissected lower limb. Though it was difficult using scalpel and forceps to dissect at first, I got quite good at it in the course of a few days. In the course of dissection, I thought that the Anatomy book (Cunningham) proved quite helpful.Despite the difficulty involved in dissecting a cadaver, it was a great learning experience for me. It was difficult for me to dissect face, hand,and genitals. This was probably because I was quite emotional. In addition, it was difficult to trace the course of nerves and arteries. But, it was quite exciting to find out how these nerves and arteries branched out to different parts of the body. Above all, this experience was crucial in understanding the subject matter beyond the text book.
Besides these, it was an excellent way of working as a group.Whenever we learnt about a new thing, we wo u l d s h a r e amongst ourselves.For example, it was great fun, matching different parts of the cadaver mentioned in our text book to the real parts in the cadaver in front of us. In a way, it was a great fun and at the same time it was vital in expanding our knowledge i n anatomy. E v e n t h o u g h anatomical dissection is a wonderful part of medical education, it is not devoid of cont roversy. I t i s surrounded by ethical issues. Despite the ethical concerns, I believe cadavers are great teachers to any anatomy student. And I thank my cadaver for teaching me what I am supposed to understand in anatomy in order to use this knowledge for some noble cause.
– Nandan Choudhary
2007 Batch,RIMS,ranchi
Being Roll No. 1
“What is there in a name?” The famous Shakespearean dialogue may sound मिस्क़ुओतेद if your initials begin with the alphabet “A”. Once your name starts with ‘Ab’ or ‘Aa’, chances increase that you may suffer from the endless trauma of being crowned the tag of ‘Roll No. 1”. In my school days luckily the label was always beyond my reach courtesy a guy named “Aanand”. The mysterious ‘Aa’ in front of his name made him a permanent Roll No.1. Ultimately my fortune betrayed me, and I became the victim of such unexpected coincidence in RIMS.First time I got the task of being Roll 1 was in the 1st M.B. Exam. While everybody else were busy telling their next neighbour to cooperate during the exam, I had the uninvited opportunity of having invigilator sitting in front of me. The situation just prevented me from even moving a bit to the right or to the back (oo left side I had the wall). Then I came to know of a ‘Golden rule’ — No matter whatever be the sitting arrangement, the only person in front of a Roll No. 1 would be the examiner. At the end of the exam (the moment the bell rang), my answersheet was confiscated with exceptional time accuracy.
After the exam my next headache was ‘Viva’. Viva always seemed more dreadful to me as one never knows which question from the endless no. of pages is made to trouble you.Being first one to experience the viva, a Roll No. 1 serves as a ‘Guinea Pig’ and everybody just learns from your encounter with (or by) the examiner. My fear turned into reality in the biochemistry viva. Fully energised from a cup of tea, I got a volley of 20-25 questions from the external sir in specs. The torture continued for more than half an hour. As if this ordeal was not enough, he asked our HOD Sir “Sinhaji!Ap bhi kuch puch lijiye?”. Sensing that I had got more questions than deserved he replied “Ap to kuch chhore hi nahi. Hum kya puchhe?”
I was relieved. My problems (of being Roll No. 1) are short lived and would disappear after the exam, I thought. This seemed to be a gross misinterpretation and the nightmare continued to haunt me. I have to be over cautious during attendance as it starts with me. A slight delay & you can easily end up in the absentee list. But practically more heart wrenching situation arises in the case of proxy. Once I acquired the uncoveted position, I lost the privilage of proxy. My proxy became the most risky affair. Either a teacher identifies (A Roll No. 1) or is hyper attentive at the beginning of attendance. My fortune might turn against me at any moment, even in between the lectures. Nobody knows when an obscure question will mysteriously emerge in an otherwise calm professor’s mind in between a boring lecture. Unable to point at a particular guy – as nobody looks towards him at that time – he would say “Anybody in the Class”. When no one
volunteers, a more familiar sentence echoes “Roll No. 1, Stand up”. This is the frequent scenario with myself at the receiving end.But there are a few positives too. You may be the first one whose answer sheet is taken but also receive the question paper before others.Ultimately (unfortunately) your marks and attendance is yours (No proxy) only. One learns to adjust to various situations with time, the better option being to enjoy the ‘Numero Uno’ tag.
– Abhishek Pandit
2007 Batch,RIMS,ranchi
“RIMS in the Eyes of Media”
“RIMS in the Eyes of Media”
Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences was established in the year 1965, then known as Rajendra Medical College and Hospital. Since its birth, RIMS has been a media favourite.Not a single day has passed when we open a newspaper and do not find the institute’s name in the columns. Well, it really make one feel good when you are always in the lime light but the form of illumination thrown on one also speaks a lot about the person. So what kind of ‘free publicity’ does RIMS get in the newspapers? Is it both positive and negative or just positive or just negative? Well till date RIMS has been a media favourite in the wrong ways mostly and a brief discussion on it shall clearly bring its causes and its effects on the reputation of the institute to the fore front.
RIMS is always in the news for the poor administration from which it suffers. Now and then the institute is rendered paralysed by strikes, be it by the doctors or the lowest grade workers of the institute. Whatever might be the situation, the one who suffer from these are the ones who are involved in no way – the people or the students. But do the doctors really enjoy going on strike so much? The answer is ‘NO’. These are the same group of people who also make news about the miraculous saving of patients who cheat death bed and escape death. But the political fog that surrounds the RIMS ambience hinders vision to proceed in the appropriate direction. The political situation from which RIMS suffers can be very aptly put as “Too many hands spoil the dish”. What RIMS needs is the vision of a proper leader but the circumstances are such that the solution to their problem seems almost impossible. Politics is playing its dirty game in the institute and hence it is suffering from the syndrome characterized mainly by ‘no administration.’
It is not just the lack of proper administration that fails the institute, but it is also the skill and the perfection of the doctors that poses a problem for the institute. Well, this might seem to be a paradoxical statement but it is actually a fact. Call it an irony of fate, the success that the doctors bring to the institute also pose a threat to it. It is because being the only large government hospital, it very easily takes over all other corporate hospitals and nursing homes in the city and nearby areas. The patient turn over that the hospital receives is above cent percent and this gathers envy from others. This leads to the spreading of wrong information by these corporates about the institute. The common man believes only what he reads in the newspaper and this leads to the development of wrong impression about the hospital in the people’s mind and heart.
Any incident that take place in the RIMS campus is exaggerated to the last limit by the media. As for instance, once there was a clash between the RIMS doctors and the outsiders, the people being at fault. It was presented with such distortion in the papers that anyone who read it became sure that it was the fault of the doctors only. So in a nutshell what we can say is that it is always biassed news that comes to the front. RIMS awaits the day when it shall read any praise from the media personnels. It seems as if the media scans the institute with hawk eyes and any small form of mismanagement is magnified to the limit and then presented before the public. But what so ever big achievement the institute makes, it is preserved in such grey colours that makes the achievement an everyday happening.
Media and RIMS walk parallel just as the two banks of a river that can never meet but would never leave each other also. Being almost against each other, there are very few incidents when the gap between the two is actually bridged.
Talking in terms of statistics,the ratio between positive and negative news that is published is about 1:5. Positivity has an upperhand, when the energy of synergy rules the campus. It is at these time that we get to read some noteworthy praises about the Rimsonians in the newspaper or hear in the news. Well, this is nothing exceptional because the talent that RIMS campus presents during synergy time can’t be undermined in any way. And also when miracle happen in the hospital, aided by the excellence of the doctors of the institute,it does not need the support of media. It has power enough to speak volumes about itself and the media becomes helpless and has to present nothing but the truth before the people.So these are the times when the media remains cordial to the institute otherwise we find both of there at loggerheads.
Well, publicity in any form is always good publicity. Day and night when one is under scrutiny, it make one more vigilant and perfect. Any step that one take is highly thoughtful one and it hardly meets with errors or failure. And that is what has made RIMS become perfect in almost every way. The media has proved to be a blessing in disguise. The way it disgraces the institute everyday actually has strengthened the determination of the institute to become perfect. RIMS in the recent past has had so many major achievements, opening of several departments, technically being well equipped and hygienic in every corner and the institute owes a part of it’s success to the media as well. We know that we are capable and our potential is enough to take us to the zenith, but the drive to achieve at every step has been provided by the media. Hence a big thanks to the media people, that in their attempt to bring down the reputation of the institute, they have actually played a significant & silent role in its success. But yes in all these, the one who do not see the truth are the common man. They usually believe what they read and hear. But god has given man the most important ability, that is to think and realise. Hence now it is on the part of the public to believe either the media and be fooled or to rest their faith in the doctors & the institute and be healthy.
– Poonam Mohanty
2008 Batch RIMS,ranchi
BEING AN ATTENDENT----a real story
BEING AN ATTENDENT----a real story
By- डॉ सत्यम सिन्हा
RIMS, ranchi
An unknown number flashing on my mobile screen! May be any girl; any wrong number girl; any old link or any returning sentiments!.... “Hello!”.... Shit. It is called KLPD. Its not sounding like a female voice.. may be due to network problem, I consoled myself. But really it was a male voice. And the tragedy train just begun to rush into my life from this instant.
Emergency landing by an Auto, time 1:30 PM, Friday. A lady (30 yrs) was injured in road accident and she was brought here. Her husband was known to my father and so he rang me for help. It was a head injury. After primary treatment in emergency ICU, the case was referred to the Neuro indoor. This case was registered with PIR No. as a Police case, although it was not (what a facility!) but who will not wish to save
money!
They were well dressed like belonging from an average middle class family. This helpedme because I introduced them to doctors and seniors as my own relatives (Bhabhi?).Bhabhi is appropriate word for her because if a girl comes to visit her, she will be most probably a Sali...and then I can have a chance to score!! Really, sometimes I am a genius!!
A politician type man (new undertraining roadside leader) was accompanying them. He was never in favour of RIMS. Continuously nodding against RIMS, he was forcing to opt for Raj Hospital. But the attendant (husband) was getting a point to suspect him. He may be having some comission for every patient, because in an earlier incidence also he had suggested for Raj hospital. But am I that big a fool? Who says RIMS is full of negligence? And after all, HAMARE MADHUKAR JI TO YAHIN HAIN NA!” He did not even remember my name (Madhaw). I too was interested in attending the patient because of the dream of visiting girls, although only one came and that too she was not beautiful, but however I added her in my list, expecting for some of her friends.
Before the patient was placed in the neuro ward, I went there, got the investigation slipfor CT-Scan from a PG Boss (Because I am a medico, so I can violate rules) and took the patient directly to CT Scan room, boycotting the long queue of waiting people (who were gazing at us with a suspicious look). I was in a hurry of getting the CT Scan done on that very day (Friday) as getting it done on the next day (Saturday) would lead to wastage of 3 days (this is what happens with common/ general patients) – obviously no doc. comes on Sunday. CT-Scan was done 3 times due to lack of experience & knowledge of technicians (contract basis par bahal hue the na!) and the hazard of radiation was always there. But as I was working for RIMS Director’s Souvenir (Pragati Ki Udan – A booklet about RIMS development), I was conditioned to see everything positively, specially any incident related to RIMS. So I explained it to the attendant –he whole 36 pages that I had written for RIMS in the souvenir. Earlier too, I had presented it to 10-12 persons. I was feeling like a Brand “Look! 3 times scanning. In other hospitals, they would have done only once.Hamare Yahan deeply diagnosis ki jati hai....and then a long lecture started about RIMS. I delivered to him t Ambassador of RIMS – Ek karmath nishthawan chhatra.
In the indoor, the politician type man was in a mood of having an argument with me..... .“You are all careless and irresponsible medicos.This RIMS is never trustworthy because of you,your rules and your thoughts. Govt. invests so much money on you and how do you repay?Neither do you want to serve in the village (R.D.) nor you are dutiful here. The only thing you have in your calendar is strike! Strike and again strike!! You will never come to know how important a life is! Poor people come here not because of your facilities and infrastructure but because they cant afford any other place. Unki majboori hi unke ummid ka karan hai.”
“You doctors start playing with dead bodies in 1st year of medical study, continue enjoying it in 2nd year as FMT and thus gradually you get an addiction of death. You lose your emotions. For you, a death is just like a kiss in a hollywood film, it happens here and there and everywhere.”
I was losing my confidence. Is this a debate competition? Then suddenly I woke up as a champ! I began recalling my talent, I was the winner in my school. And then I appeared as a super champ....
“What do you want? Everytime we are compared to God. But is this the way to behave with God? Atleast let us be simple human beings. We are also like you. (Bastiwalon se jhagada hue kuchh din hi beete the). We too have the fear of death when it comes to us...we do have the dreams. We could have gone for engineering or MBA and by this time, we would have been playing in lakhs in a metropolitan.But we are here because we want to serve. We have already burried our young life among the books (But ideally it should be among bo**** censored). And just imagine what we feel when the people for whom we sacrifice so much begin to attack us, even become misers in giving respect. Our self respect is also being snatched in fact... “, and again the same long lecture (36pages) I delivered breathlessly.
That night the patient again called me. Oh shit.. But “Yes, this is a doctor’s life”. I tried to feel proud of the sacrifice of my sleep.
When I was going to see the patient, it was around 1 AM at night. One man was weeping silently. I asked him about the tears, and he narrated the incident.His daughter (14 yrs) was admitted in medicine ward. Doctors had declared that she had Acute Renal failure in advanced stage. Renal transplant was the only option left, if the parents could manage it easily. And for this too, they would have to go to higher centres. Definitely they were unable to afford it, so they decided to stay in RIMS so that atleast she could die in comfort (As they thought). At that moment,the girl was anxious, dyspnoeic, restless. Her father requested the nurse for oxygen.But the nurse who was sleeping, replied arrogantly – “Who are you to decide whether to supplement oxygen or not? When the doctor will come, he will decide if it is required or not. Your patient is dying anyway. It is not wise to spend the Govt. oxygen like this. May be this will be lifesaving for some one else needing it actually.
I went to the bed with her father. But now the girl was at rest, with a calm and smiling face. She didn’t need any more oxygen even for breathing. I was standing still. Pause!! A lot of questions began to explode. Did their purpose get solved? Was the nurses’ logic correct? Or was she irresponsible towards her duty? Can’t we have a hope till the last second for a miracle to occur? Is it superstition.. was she dying with comfort? Could the oxygen supplement be of any help in this case?
In the Neuro ward, the attendant was tense & worried, waiting for me near the gate of C2 ward. As soon as he saw me, he ran to me and said – “Lagata hai yahan aake phans gaye hain kaa?” Actually his patient was vomiting and was restless. Although the condition was not so severe but in neuro ward,where everytime life is in 50-50 probability, his anxiety was obvious. He firstly reported to the doctor in Emergency, but no body came. Again he went to call but the doctor on duty replied – “Jao na ji, aate hain na 5 minute main! Tum aise kar rahe ho jaise tumhi mar rahe ho turant.” And then the doctor preferred to sleep rather than going with him to the ward. Ultimately he called me after losing all hope. I thought it was useless to go to the emergency again. So I preferred to go to PG Hostel. There was a PG Boss, quiet, laborious and caring, known to me.He was very popular among patients because of his dedication.
Saturday night, 1:35 AM. I was going to PG (Boys!!) Hostel 2nd time. My 1st visit came In my mind as a recap of a TV serial. 1st time during Saraswati Puja (then we were the junior most) ‘chanda’ collection. We got a chance to see this completely different form of medico life.At that time, most of us were excited to knock at the gate, because in 1st few rooms we had seen girls 1st time in any boys hostel. Our dirty mind were working fast. There are two types of rooms. First type – like a library, hardly any space to sit. (PG Aspirant and single-unpaired PG Boss), and 2nd type – well decorated with AC, internet, TV,girlfriend or wife. This time, as I had no idea as to which room I should go, I took the help of another Boss of my fibre to whom I had promised to arrange a girl friend. (Because the whole campus knows that I have many girlfriends and I have arranged for many of my batchmates).
In the destined room, as I was expecting, no specific signs and symptoms were present.
Boss was busy on phone (probable symptom) and indicated me to sit. While he was talking.I concluded that on the other side of phone was the same ma’am (senior girl) for whom maximum of UG go to library as a routine work. Boss had to finish his talk and came with me to the ward.
Boss : Is this patient your own relative?
Me : Yes Boss (I answered with hesitation).
Boss : You are in 3rd year na?Then also you don’t know the condition and situation of this institute; surprisingly you are a stupid guy. Man! Here only those come who can’t go anywhere else or those who have to get a false medical certificate.
Me : Boss, what is the problem here? Is the staff careless or is the system defective?
Boss : No! Everything is not defective. We have the latest instruments and labs. Some nurses serve better than those in any other hospital. Their dedication is really appreciable.Some doctors are really dutiful and caring.Some senior doctors like are really hard working due to whom this institute is surviving. But some are still here who don’t want to work.The system is also much defective. Afterall its a Govt. hospital na?
He came to the ward and while prescribing medicines, nearby patients also started telling their problems. He had to give a complete round, although he was not on duty. While leaving he gave me a burning suggesting – “From now don’t bring your own relatives here. Not because I had to come here at night, but because of the absence of responsibility in the system”.
I was analysing the truth. Really some are good like him, but many are negligent. And the lives of patients is more important than this statistical analysis. If only one doctor is irresponsible, this means one life is being lost every day. And specially in conditions where the patient doesn’t have any recommendation from ministers or medicos like me.
While returning from medicine shop, near the fountain I saw Putesar of my village.His father (40 yrs) was a labour in Kolkata. There he fell ill but was neglected initially. Later when he consulted the doctor, it was too late. Cancer was diagnosed. He spent all his money there,and when every penny was lost, he decided to return to his village so that he could take his last breath near his four marks and die in front of his family. He was waiting for his death every second.One day it came in Newspaper “Now complete treatment of cancer with RADIOTHERAPHY is available in RIMS (July 09). Patients of Jharkhand now don’t need to go anywhere else.” Some of the villagers collected money and suggested him to go to RIMS, although some were suggesting for TMH or BHU. But he wished to arrange for the marriage of his daughter so that he could see it before dying. But here in RIMS, he could not get Radiotherapy, bcoz it’s not available here.
Doctors told him to go somewhere else, but he didn’t have any zeal and enthusiasm for it. He had spent his money in early investigations and medicines. Although I didn’t have the strength to face the situation, I had to go with him. The patient was lying in cachexic condition. “No need to worry or fear. You have atleast one year. Who knows the power and will of God. He takes care of everyone. “koun janta hai kab chamatkar ho jaye“– I was trying to console him.But instead he began to smile – ““pandi ji marz ke bare me bhale aap hamse jyada jante hain,par mout ke bare me to mat hi bataiye..–” Definitely medical science may teach me more about disease, but when it came to death, he was a scholar no doubt.
After some days he died in his village but left thousands of questions in my mind. Was it correct to publish it in the newspaper like this? Is false advertisement is more important than the life of common man? Is it a simple death or the death of a common man’s hope regarding RIMS? Was the investment in treatment against his will fruitful.” Would it have been better to arrange for the marriage instead of treatment?The question was not whether treatment is given here but if this false self-appreciation in News Paper hadn’t come, he might have gone to some other institution.
To my patient on Monday, doctor advised for blood transfusion urgently. Blood group AB negative. And coincidently or by foul play, it was not available in RIMS. I tried in other blood banks, but with no success. After a long struggle, we could manage two units from Bokaro. Although it was life saving, but we still needed atleast two more units. That politician type man took me to RIMS Blood Bank and said– “I know blood is available. You are a medical student of this institute. Try to get it.” I was surprised, how did he know? But I tried my best. I got the same reply again – “AB negative is not available, try to consult after 2-3 days. May be we will be able to provide it.” Then the politician took out his mobile and dialed the number of an MLA. While talking on phone, he gave a cunning smile to me. After some time he got the blood.
I was shocked. What was this? Before this I used to think that we medicos are supreme, only we can violate and modify the disciplines (sometimes outside the RIMS also). But in this case MLA is the supreme and we are just like a common man. But still the bigger question was that, Does it happen with every common patient, even in emergency situations?
Any way, next day my patient was advisedsome investigations. But the investigation slip was kept by the nurse. Consequently the investigation could not be done. The relatives called me but as I had my exams on the next day, I explained them my inability to come and promised to visit the next day. Next day in the morning the patient and the relatives were scolded by the doctor for not getting the investigation done. Also this critical case was not handled with specific modification due to nonavailability of investigation eport.When I visited there in the evening, the nurse explained me the reason to me. Actually it was a police case, so only the hospital trolley staff could get the investigation slip and only he could take the patient for investigations. But because no trolley of Neuro ward was vacant and the staff was not interested in bringing a trolley to the 4th floor of Neuro wards, he didn’t take the pain of bringing a trolley for the patient.And thus, no investigation was done.I, taking the advantage of being a medico,got the slip, took the patient for nvestigation,got it done, felt a bit relaxed, and came to my hostel.
Of oh! My mobile started ringing at 2 am.I became so angry, almost willing to break it.But cooled down seeing the patient’s number.I received the call. But alas!! I was shocked. I just couldn’t believe it. An apparently smiling normal (obviously injured) person whom I visited a few hours ago was dead. Reason – delay in investigation – delay in diagnosis – delay in specific treatment. I had no other option left than to repent, as she might have been saved if I had visited her earlier. Although she was not my own relative, but I felt a relation. Several times I had felt joy, when she had told that she was feeling well due to my help. Was it a fixed final destination, which could never be altered?
Its already 2 months since this incident.Now I am busy with my exams. I also forgot about the incident like most of the readers will.But one good news, I got many new girlfriends through the visitor girl. If you need, try to be the attendent or call me on 9709033291. Hey listen, I am getting calls. Remaining in the next story.“Hello.... excuse me! Bye readers!! ... Hello! Oh you are so naughty dear....”
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RIMS,ranchi
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