National Doctors’ Day: 3 doctors on what they learnt from their patients

As a neurologist, I have always attempted to go beyond treating the disease and forming a connection with the patient so that he can trust the therapy. Sometimes that bond lasts a lifetime. But the day I got a beautiful raakhi from Kavita, the wife of one of my patients from Chopal in Himachal Pradesh, whom I had treated almost 30 years ago, I welled up. Her husband, Bhupender, had multiple brain tumours, but the one person who prolonged his life was his brother Nikkar Ram, who would accompany him every month.

As his brother and his wife could not have a baby because of the disease, Ram gave away his daughter to them, hoping she would fill their life with joy and hope. Bhupender had to go through nine surgeries. Yet, Ram and Kavita stood beside him throughout this journey. After long hospital stays, frequent tests, running around for medicines and sitting up nights, Ram never left his brother’s side, dealing with his grief, financial issues, emotional and mental fatigue, but never complaining, or giving up.

Those days, there were no motorable roads in Chopal, and as his brother was too weak to walk till the main road, Ram would carry him on his back, board a bus to Chandigarh and then to PGI, a long journey of more than eight hours. Every time I saw him, I stepped up to ensure that Bhupender could live despite the disease recurring. From my end, I did whatever I could to ease admissions and surgeries. I routinely followed Bhupinder’s case through teleconsults, never missing them.

Bhupender passed away in 2000. Ram went on to give half his property to Kavita and made sure she was always part of the family. It would not have been possible for us to sustain such a long treatment at PGI without him. This family repeatedly restored and rekindled my faith in humanity, unconditional love and fortitude. Ram’s phone display has a photograph of us together, despite all these years. Even now, every time he is in Chandigarh, he comes to meet me at PGI. “I know that Bhupender bhaiyya is smiling down at us,” he tells me.

‘Terminal patients teach me courage’

Dr Sushma Bhatnagar, AIIMS

Some memories are indelible even for a palliative care specialist like me who goes through end-of-life scenarios all the time. This was a young patient, who entered my clinic with a big smile for the last time. She wanted to give me the good news that she had gotten her husband married and was content that there would be someone to take care of her girls after her death. She had chosen the girl herself. I draw courage from such patients who can brave the worst.

Surrounded by terminal cancer patients through the day, I have begun to understand why there are so many doctor-patient conflicts and why patients are angry when their condition becomes intractable. It is because they come to the hospitals with a lot of uncertainty — they do not know whether they will get better, how long will it take for them to go back home, who would take care of their families if they couldn’t make it, and then regret about unmet responsibilities. It is because of this confusion that I see so many patients, running from one department to another, even when there is no hope. And it is our job as a doctor to ease every patient, explain to them what treatment they are undergoing, give them realistic hope and if there is none, help them come to terms with the inevitable.

During medical training, doctors are taught to save a patient, even at the very end of their life by intubating them, resuscitating them or putting them on a ventilator. Conversations with them about their care and knowing when to stop are more important.

I tell my entire team to communicate calmly and clearly with all the patients. I also tell them to take care of small things such as booking an appointment on a day when they can see their other specialists. This saves them the trauma and pain of coming to the hospital again and again. That’s a huge relief.

I remember the mother of an eight-year-old. After understanding the disease and treatment that had been offered to her son, all she asked me to ensure was that he was not in pain. Once the pain was managed, she happily took him home where he passed away in her lap. A little support and empathy had helped her.

‘She had rare disease but kept my hope up’

Dr Suranjit Chatterjee,
Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi

I can never forget the day a young woman from Faridabad came to us with fever and mental disorientation and confusion. After thorough examinations, she was diagnosed with African trypanosomiasis, commonly known as sleeping sickness, caused by the tsetse fly. This disease is extremely rare in our region and the necessary medications were not available locally.

Upon confirming the diagnosis, we coordinated with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) in Delhi, doing daily consults with experts in Geneva and South Africa. They assisted in procuring the necessary medications, which were not readily available in our country. This case was a remarkable example of how global medical cooperation can overcome significant hurdles.

But what kept me going was the patient’s own will and confidence to make a full recovery despite the initial complexity. Despite her critical condition and the uncertainty surrounding her treatment, she remained hopeful, cooperative and trusted me to deliver. This reinforced in me the lesson that as a doctor, it is vital to convince my patients that they should never give up, no matter how dire the situation may seem. A positive mindset can significantly influence the course of treatment and recovery. As doctors, we must be the pillars of strength for our patients, providing not just medical care but also emotional support and encouragement.