Humane Doctor

I have heard about Doctors (Physicians and Surgeons with different specialisations) espousing values true to Hippocratic oath and have been previleged to have met some. This one belonging to the latter group and therefore difficult to find, is a relative, borne and brought up under the same roof.

We share same genes and therefore all those genetic characteristics, and I do not refer to scientific meaning of the term lest the Doctor points out the mistake. I refer to the meaning attached to the term colloquially, like external toughness, height, body structure, candid and no-nonsense opinions, selective in relationships, extreme likes and dislikes, tender at heart but shy of expression, above average intelligence, learners, good at languages etc.

He is a voracious reader and prolific writer. He has eidetic memory, an eye for art and love for literature. He is an ace in diagnosis and because of that sought out by wealthy and powerful. I rate him ten on ten on empathy when it comes to poor, underserved and suffering. He is extremely compassionate.

He is a fitness freak and can be spotted on the road anytime between 4 am and 8 am, running or cycling at places as far as 50 kms from his house, stopping on way to observe, empathize with and feed those unfortunate sleeping on the footpath.

All these qualities combined with strong bias for written as opposed to verbal communication (though he is an eloquent speaker when he opts to or is compelled to speak), results into his frequent posts shared with select group (I find similarity with me here).

I received this one and thought of sharing with you all. And I quote:

"He is a tough nut! Have seen him carrying his siblings and parents as passengers in his cycle rickshaw!

Today he was sitting all by himself with an unmistakable film of tears in his big white eyes!

For me hysterical sobbing is no draw but yes, the tears that have been steadfast in the eyes, not allowed to run down, must require great resilience and tenacity!

I did not ask him! Period! Question and answer is no conversation! Sitting in silence, putting my hand on his, must have said a lot!

He pointed at his great toe, swollen, nail sheared off, blood caked black!

I was reminded of the great story of the anthropologist Margaret Mead!

Years ago, anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked by a student what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a culture. The student expected Mead to talk about fishhooks or clay pots or grinding stones.

But no. Mead said that the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture was a femur (thighbone) that had been broken and then healed. Mead explained that in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg, you die. You cannot run from danger, get to the river for a drink or hunt for food. You are meat for prowling beasts. No animal survives a broken leg long enough for the bone to heal.

A broken femur that has healed is evidence that someone has taken time to stay with the one who fell, has bound up the wound, has carried the person to safety and has tended the person through recovery. Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts, Mead said.”

We are at our best when we serve others. Be civilized.

I motioned him to get up, he barely could! I motioned him to remain still where he was!

Non verbal communication was creating more empathy than “oh poor little boy! What happened? How?“ it would have been such an average mundane morning encounter!

I got home, changed transport to car, reached where he was sitting, motioned to him to sit in the car!

We did not speak a word! In any case, pain demands to be felt and grief borne out of pain reveals us to our self! His poise through silence was remarkably impressive!

We went home!

One of the reasons, surgery was never a draw for me was my left handedness! I hate dressing wounds and the elaborate deliberate process is quite tedious and of course the other prerequisite for surgery was almost shutting down the cognitive process of thinking!

Yet, his hope and expectations were the driving force for me!

Cleaned, dressed and looking squeaky clean and new, the foot looked like it belonged to someone else!

Finally he tied a huge cross of trust around my neck! When I asked whether he believed I would return and fetch him, he just nodded in affirmative.

I must have given him the reason for him to exercise his rights over me, asking me for a pain killer tablet!

He managed a big smile as he walked away hastily wiping a lone tear with a swish of his hand!

When I looked at the final outcome of my wound dressing, I needed no further reason for not becoming a surgeon!

But who the hell cares!

His wound healed in three dressings!"