THIS CAN HAPPEN: VOLUME XIX & XX
Dr. Gangadhar Sahoo
THIS CAN HAPPEN: VOLUME XIX
My friend and guide Dr. Jayashree Rath , Retired Professor and HOD Pathology is a regular reader of my anecdotes and short stories, published in a prestigious monthly e-journal THE LITERARY VIVES. She is not only a silent reader but also a sound and strict critic. After reading one of my anecdotes she described one of her experiences of similar nature , which I am going to narrate .
Madam Professor Rath was posted in MKCG Medical College Berhampur , as Assistant Professor . She was very much comfortable there staying with her engineer husband, daughter reading in the same medical college and son reading in plus two science. She was a teacher par excellence ,student loving and a hard task master. She was in charge of cytology section. A sample from female medical ward, marked as “most urgent” was given to her for opinion . It was a sample of peritoneal fluid from a very sick girl of 18 years. The requisition form was almost blank except written, " Peritoneal fluid for biochemical and cytological study and in bold letters MOST URGENT "and signed by the unit head . Reading this ,Madam Rath frowned , " What requisition form is this ? Inspite of repeated requests and warnings, to fill the form completely with relevant information, which is essential for reporting , they are sending whimsically . Let me personally go and discuss with the unit head ."Shouting this, Madam left her chair and marched towards the female medical ward, accompanied by a senior doctor . When she reached the spot she saw a group of senior doctors of different specialities along with the unit head were surrounding the patient and taxing their experienced brains to find out a provisional diagnosis in a sinking girl.
The girl was lying on the bed with five tubes attached, oxygen mask, rayles tube, indwelling catheter, monitor and an intravenous channel. She was admitted as a case of pyrexia of unknown origin. All possible investigations were done but no definite diagnosis was reached. When nothing responded, a therapeutic trial with anti tubercular therapy was planned but not yet started. There were features of multi organ failure with renal shutdown. Nephrologist's opinion was solicited. Dr. Palit , the nephrologist immediately came to the ward and joined all the wise men in discussion . After clinical examination he asked a straightforward question to the girl, " When and where had you undergone termination of pregnancy? " Everyone present there were stunned to hear such a question. The girl was not expecting such an embarrassing question. She started trembling and with stammering voice tried with her full might to defend such an allegation. Then her parents were called to join the team. They were asked to counsel their daughter if she had such a relationship. If it was fact, then the treatment would be different and she could be saved . If she concealed facts, she would be referred to radio diagnosis department for Ultrasonography and automatically it would be made public. Moreover the final diagnosis and treatment would be delayed. The girl had to suffer.
At last the girl confessed. The case was referred to the gynaecologist. She was investigated in the line of septic criminal abortion and treated accordingly . All the wise men present there, had a sigh of relief.
Till that time Madam Rath was observing the scene in the female medical ward. She was so much drowned in the discussion that she had forgotten what for she had come there .
Only the single direct question, “When and where had you undergone termination of pregnancy?” was ringing in her ears. She was amazed to observe the clinical sense of Dr. Palit. When all wise men failed and they were going to lose a life, a single, bold and pertinent question saved the life of a young girl.
Hats off to Dr. Palit. How can he smell the disease when others had failed ? Might be, his experience might have come to play. The medical fraternity needs such physicians with extraordinary clinical sense who can cure diseases with their healing touch. This incidence reminds me the clinical skill of legendary figures like Professor Raghu Sahoo and Professor Dasmohapatra.
This anecdote gives a strong message to the society. Termination of pregnancy is legalized. Every needy person should take advantage of this law. Society is ready to provide all resources for safe abortion. Criminal abortion is illegal and punishable. It's life threatening. Modern society never expects a mother to die of criminal abortion.
This Happens: Volume XX
Dr. Gangadhar Sahoo
This is an incidence of 20 years back, when I was in VSS Medical College Burla. In the early morning of Kartika Purnima my mother, daughter and I were ready to visit the Lord Shiba temple in the MCL campus , about 3 kms away from my quarters. My wife was to accompany us. But she was in deep slumber.
When I tried to wake her up, she replied, " You go . Lock up the door from outside. I will go later. " We all went to the temple, finished our Darshan and came back. It took nearly half an hour to 45 minutes.
To my utter surprise my better half was still in same condition. She responded calmly to my angry reaction, " You have finished the Darshan. That's good. Fifty percent of the virtue you earned is mine because I am your better half. I need not visit the temple. I enjoyed my pleasant early morning slumber and got the reward without any stress. Thank you very much. "
This is another incidence. We were checking out the hotel after the conference . The security guard put our luggage in the taxi and about to close the door. My better half handed over a two hundred rupee note and received a royal salute in return. The car started for the airport. On the way I asked her why she misused the money giving to a wrong person. She said, " When you are in Rome , be a Roman ." I remained silent.
I was going for marketing in the morning as a part of my duty and hobby. That day the special order was for a special variety of ripe mango. I purchased two kg. of mango after selecting the best variety ( of course as per my standard) and returned home with pride. I was expecting a big THANK YOU. My wife called me, showed me the mangoes and told, " Who has selected the mangoes ( you or the driver ) ? You see ! These mangoes are not ripe and therefore will not be tasty. Mark the green portion. Repeatedly I have told you to select only the yellow variety . Next time, bring 100% yellow color mango. "
"Yes Madam", was my sober reply.
I don't like misuse of electricity or water. But it is the habit of many not to switch off the light, fan, TV or any other device or machine not in use. Whenever I detect it, immediately I switch off . When it was a regular affair, I thought that I should give a lecture to my family members about it . Next moment I thought it may be a boomerang. I apprehended that I might get a reply, " Thank you very much for saving energy and water . If you can do it, what's the need of delivering a lecture." One day I had forgotten to shut the bathroom door. My wife noticed it. She shut it but applied the same medicine on me. Without wasting any time she called me to tell that the bathroom door should always be shut whether in use or not. I was about to reply, " Already you have done it . What is the need of making it an issue? "
But decided to remain silent.
Disagreement is the rule. Opinions are destined to vary. When I want to watch the sports whe wants serials, when I want fan she wants AC, when I want coffee she wants tea . When I need the help of the driver she manufacturers an emergency situation. The list is a long one. It has become a habit to live with difference of opinions more so to enjoy such moments .
This type of differences are blessings in disguise. It is very good method of time pass . It is said that five minutes of violent quarrel between the spouses is equivalent to thirty minutes of brisk walk. Arguments, disagreement and misunderstandings are part and parcel of life more so with spouses. To me it is not only a time pass but a time tested method of living together. It is immuno booster . In this type of situations someone is to win . I always believe the dictum that SHE IS ALWAS RIGHT.
Contradiction is the rule not an exception. Enjoy it .
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