The Master’s Guidance Continues
Acharya Mahendranath (The Master) |
Our activities over Instagram and Facebook have kept us connected with each other’s energy. So why stop here? Why not have Master’s Talk Session as well, but in a different manner? So we asked students to send us questions and the Master has given His guidance through this blog. So we hope that you all read it, understand it, internalize it, apply it and make your life even better. Please share your comments at the end of each question and of course, more questions are welcome on moxshlife@gmail.com.
Priya Manglani |
Q. My friend told me the other day that a person from her neighbourhood had a paralysis attack and when his family went to admit him, most of the hospitals were not ready to accept him because they thought it was a coronavirus case, and many of the private hospitals were closed and the surgeons and specialists don't open their clinics because of the panic. The family had to finally admit him to JJ hospital, and the doctor was scheduled to come at 5 a.m.; but ended up coming at 2 p.m. My question is, if the doctors themselves will be in a panic state and negligent how do we trust them to help us in the hour of need? Patients with kidney failures who need dialysis thrice a week, or diabetes patients are at stake here because they need doctors all the time and many of the doctors especially from the private sector are on leave. How do we address this issue?
Coming to the second part of your question: You have said that doctors are panicking, they have gone on leave, and that because of this negligent behaviour many patients who need other medical attention are suffering.
On the face of it, everything you say appears correct. But it is very important that you understand that this situation is very complex and there are many aspects to it, some of which I can understand and tell you right now.
When we say ‘doctors’, there are many kinds of doctors. Their specialization is different. Also, some work in large hospitals (private or government-run), some have medium-sized nursing homes, and some physicians run small clinics.
Can we generalize and say they are all panicking and neglecting their duty?
If yes, then how come so many thousands of doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers are directly working with Coronavirus patients? Not only that, they are having stones pelted at them and people are spitting on them! In spite of all this, they are still doing their duty. We need to salute them. The situation had become so serious that the government passed a law that says such perpetrators will receive heavy punishment and severe legal action will be taken against them. I am personally very thankful to the government for having taken these measures to safeguard our health workers.
There is another aspect that I have seen on news and which I feel must be addressed. The doctors (and other health care workers and police personnel), who are providing emergency service are going home after their duty!
I think this is a cause of great anxiety for them. They have children and families at home whom they are putting at risk every time they go home. If their family gets infected, the next in line are those living in their society or colony, and very soon it will spread like wildfire. It is very important for the administration to think about the doctors’, other health care workers', and police persons’ families and the larger impact on the society.
You talk about private sector doctors being on leave. I don’t think they are on leave. They might not be available to provide their services because it is possible that the physicians who run small clinics and nursing homes do not have the infrastructure or enough Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) because there is a shortage, and priority is being given to the coronavirus care centres.
Please understand that this is a very contagious disease and the entire city is in a lockdown. This disease has been known to lie dormant and often people do not show symptoms for a while. What if such an infected person comes to a clinic for something minor like a stomach ache and ends up infecting the other patients and the doctor, who then infects everyone else who comes there in the next few days? Are the doctors being negligent or responsible?
There are too many things to be considered here. The government and the administrative system must plan, organize and work with the public to find solutions for all these problems. I have a few ideas:
For the emergency workers, the administration can get restaurants around the hospitals to provide food directly at the hospitals. The hotels or guest houses nearby can be used for their stay so that they don’t need to go home.
Similarly, to make facilities available for non-coronavirus cases, the administration can use the many small and medium-sized nursing homes and private hospitals that have beds for patients and separate rooms for doctors. They can create the required safety infrastructure and provide adequate PPE so that specialist doctors like those in OPDs, Orthopaedic surgeons, diabetologists, Urologists’ etc. can set up practice here, stay here for the duration of the pandemic and attend to patients who have other ailments and need regular check-ups and treatment. That way they can provide service and keep their families safe.
Many of my students are doctors and they are on emergency duty now. And I am very concerned for them, just like I am concerned for all other doctors and nurses out there.
Like the doctors, even the police personnel are having a very tough time. There are many women police officers among them. They stand in the hot sun for many hours a day just to stop irresponsible, even the so-called educated, citizens who keep going out unnecessarily. Can we even understand how difficult it is for them? None of these people who go out ever stop to think even for a moment that “I may be responsible for infecting these doctors and police personnel, so let me follow the rules”!
I say now is the time for people all around the world to appreciate the doctors, healthcare workers, and police personnel, increase their confidence, and support them in every possible way.
There are already many good citizens who are leading by examples. I have seen in the news, that some hotel owners have given their hotel rooms exclusively for the use of doctors and nurses. Another person has given his vanity van for women police personnel to use for their rest and fresh-up. If we take the time to think about their difficulties, we can all find ways to help them. These things count and matter a lot. These people need this kind of attitude, gratitude, concern, and support from us right now, and not doubt and criticism."
— Acharya Mahendranath
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