THE AIIMS DREAM

Okay so I hadn't ever posted about it considering my own strangest fears that it shall never come true. And I hadn't ever talked about it before. But this has been a dream that I have cherished for way too long - to study at AIIMS. I don't know where it stands when it comes to the world, but it is the best medical institution in India and I wanna be a part of it once. I know it is easier said than done and getting into AIIMS is not eating cake. And with all the time that I waste, I won't even get closer to achieve it. So I have decided on wasting lesser time on useless activities and pending more on productive ones. Studying 24 * 7 makes me dull and that is not my way but studying more than I do and even with it, living life to the fullest in every little way is what I plan...

So now I am gonna get me a good book and read it...play more games and spend more time sketching and ebjoying myself. At the same time, I am gonna spend more time studying and less time in front of the idiot box. So that some day when I see myself at AIIMS, I have more than something to cherish about.

SKETCHES 2

Some more sketches that I have drawn . . .

SKETCHES

So I have taken up drawing... I am still a learner though but it makes a worthwhile hobby. Studying Harrison and Bailey all the time isn't good for health nor is blogging too much. And the enchantment of having finished a good sketch is like Mr.YouKnowWho getting his hands on Harry Potter... So here are some of them :

Medical Student life- why is it hectic !

Now what happened a few months back compels me to post this one. The head of our dermatology department, who happens to be a man of wonderful charisma and energy, while teaching us the aspects of vitiligo came up with some nice stories about life and philosophy. I guess, he would have been a philosopher had he not chosen the wrong field. But then, philosophy is something all doctors master (especially those "heads of departments")! While reminiscing about his past events in life he explained to us why we should be cautious in our dealings with patients-"cos doctors are no longer Gods!" He explained to us that times have actually changed and it is better we adapt to the changed needs and demands of people. We needn't go after trying to save every life because saving trouble ourselves was equally important. Though many would disagree, I guess all would do the same if they are at a doctor's place.

But That's not the point of the post. i would someday post about self-righteousness and selfishness for doctors. This post relates to what he told us about doctors. This line rings in my ears way too often- "doctors are unsocial beings...if not anti-social."

Now that was a bomb ! How wonderfully he had summarised all the trouble we go through during our life right from the moment we enter our profession, right from long hours of physical work, dealing with the expectations of seniors, listening to the shouts of hassling doctors for not doing something the way they want it to be(even if it is right) to dealing with our own mental depression and anguish, often for not doing well,or having messed up a thing; at other times, for the sake of crying patient relatives. We spend long hours trying to memorise those dull, pages of Harrison and then we spent years perfecting our skills. Yet, it stands that not a single doctor can be claim to know all about his field of precision. That is medicine !

And then, when my friends ask, why do doctors charge so much, I wonder how many Dr. Ambani or Dr. Mallya have we heard of ! And a life without friends or relatives with little time to spare for parents is not what everyone has experienced !

Where will the reservations lead us?

Where will the reservations lead us???


This question has often come to my contemplative mind. It has hassled me every time I experience some thing that has so much to do with it. I don't really know if the Government policy of reserving more and more seats for the "weaker sections of the society" is a boon or a curse. But quite candidly I don't like it.

Recently we had a viva exam. We were seated in a group of five and our microbiology teacher was the examiner. When one of my colleagues from the weaker section was asked about the commonest mode of HIV transmission, the reply that came left the examiner flabbergasted. The answer was - "venereal pus" . Now what in the hell does that mean ! Our examiner was pretty happy instructing the guy to go out and call Bulladi for some information about the same, much to the muse of the entire class.

To many, it might have been just an amusing incident but to me, and when I recall it every time I see that guy's frivolity, I wonder where we are headed to. Are we going to get such doctors in our future who don't know what dirty kids playing in the streets could teach us ! I hope not. The future of health in our nation looks bleak.

Save our tigers

Our national animal is fighting for its life.

From around 40,000 at the turn of the last century, there are just 1411 tigers left in India.

If we don’t act now, we could lose this part of our heritage forever.

Speak up, blog, share the concern, stay informed… Every little bit helps.

please visit http://saveourtigers.com/ and join the roar. It is for us to make sure that the king of the jungle  is protected.

Other pages:

http://www.wwfindia.org/

http://saveourtigers.com/blog/

http://www.wwfindia.org/?4020/campaign-for-Indias-wild-tigers

WB Govt Hospitals- the downside

Only those who have been there and those who are there would understand what being in a Government hospital of West Bengal mean. I don't include other states because I haven't been there and I am not so sure if things work the same way there though I am pretty sure that's the fact. So upon my own keen observations, I would present the following realities of our Govt. teaching institutions:

THE DOWNSIDE :

1. HEAVY PATIENT LOAD : We may not like it. We may not want it. We may disagree. But that's the fact. We have hundreds more patients than we can cater to. Our wards don't have space enough to accommodate patients. Their condition is worse than Kolkata buses ! They sleep on floors, some don't even get that luxury.

2. COMPROMISED PATIENT SAFETY AND PRIVACY : Occasionally you would notice a male patient with his pants down undergoing a par-rectal examination with the minimum of privacy benefits ! The scenario for females isn't much better, though not worse. Breast-feeding privacy is a myth. However, considering the heavy patient load, I don't blame it so much on the authorities, yet we could be spending a few thousand rupees arranging for better curtains or separate examination rooms in OPDs. And would it not be better if our interns cared enough to sterilize the tonometer before using it on every other patient. But it is not the case everywhere and the occasional meeting with a caring person is so heartening. I wish everyone would be so caring as some others.

3. CARING TALK : This is the worst part of it all. Forget the doctors, even the receptionist or sweeper in a government hospital thinks of himself as the highest profile employee. Patients and their families who are already so much depressed are put through profound trouble. With a huge campus and over-whelming patient load, you can't explain everything to every patient but you can talk gently. It would only be healing. But then, this is the condition in most Government Institutions in our country. Isn't it?