AM I A VICTIM OF MY PROFESSION (VOL-V)

AM I A VICTIM OF MY PROFESSION (VOL-V)

Dr. Gangadhar Sahoo

It is about my experience in my OPD duty during that ad-hoc posting period. At that time the OPD timing was divided into two parts.  The first half was from 8 am to 12 noon, usually allotted to the unit heads and the second half from 2pm to 5pm  allotted to the next senior faculty of that unit. On Sundays and holidays  afternoon OPD remained closed. 
The patient turnover was very low because of lack of good communication facility to Burla. Patients were coming in the name of the doctors. So the OPD of branded  doctors was relatively rush. Invariably patients were were coming to OPDs with personal slips.       

One day I was in the OPD. Senior consultants had left for ward round. I was there with one postgraduate student and one intern. We were just gossiping when came one patient with her husband.  Staring at me with a surprising look she  asked, "Is it Gynecology OPD? " 
I nodded. 

Then she asked me a chain of questions enquiring if any one of the three doctors (Madam Patel, Madam Panigrahi or Madam Moharana) was available in the OPD. My single word answer was, "NO". Then she turned round and left the OPD saying, "Then, no lady doctor is present."  Listening to his comment I cursed myself, "Being a male, why did I choose this profession ?" This was the common attitude of female patients. For a male gynaecologist it was a hard task to prove his worth. It had taken years together to establish myself. 
During my ad-hoc posting I was staying in a rented house at Sambalpur, daily going to and coming from Burla. I was taking my lunch in the PG hostel. During emergency days I was staying in the emergency room. One day there was a ‘Sambalpur bandh’ on a political issue. No public transport was allowed to fly from Sambalpur. Two wheelers were the only mode of transport. I did not have a scooter at that time. I left my home at 7am and came to the near-by bus stop. Kept on standing there waiting for a lift to Burla. At around 11am I met one gentleman who gave me the lift to Burla, knowing my profession and condition of helplessness. I was obligated. I reached OPD at around12 noon . There was not a single patient. Dr. M.D Raut, Associate Prof. ObGy and HOD was sitting with his staff and PG students. They were in a jolly mood. Most probably they were discussing about the some non-academic issues. When he saw me, his expression suddenly changed. He frowned at me, "What is the time? You are a responsible doctor. You are on OPD duty and is it the time to report ?" I felt insulted when he continued to scold like this in front of staff PG students and interns. I was standing like a statue.  Very politely I explained my condition why I was late and with what difficulty I had reached. Instead of showing sympathy he continued venting his anger and I was silently listening to him. It was the state of affairs at that time in 1980s. 
He asked me to apply for a casual leave and leave the OPD. I did that.

What a change ? When Dr. Raut was the assistant professor, he was the one man unit. No postgraduate student was allotted to him because  one or maximum two post graduate students were being posted every year and they were posted under the two professors cum unit heads. At that time I was helping in every aspect. I was the only reliable hand to him . But situation changed when he became the head of the department. He had enormous power to exercise. I was the helpless victim. 

Prof Gangadhar Sahoo is a well-known Gynaecologist. He is a columnist and an astute Academician. He was the Professor and HOD of O&G Department of VSS MEDICAL COLLEGE, Burla.He is at present occupying the prestigious post of DEAN, IMS & SUM HOSPITAL, BHUBANESWAR and the National Vice President of ISOPARB (INDIAN SOCIETY OF PERINATOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY). He has been awarded the BEST TEACHER AWARD of VSS MEDICAL COLLEGE,BURLA in 2013. He has contributed CHAPTERS in 13 books and more than 100 Scientific Articles in State, National and International Journals of high repute. He is a National Faculty in National Level and delivered more than 200 Lectures in Scientific Conventions.He was adjudged the BEST NATIONAL SPEAKER in ISOPARB NATIONAL CONVENTION in 2016.