Corp Comm & PR Specialist | Fmr. National TV Journo @ABPNews @abpmajhatv. Tracks Auto, Maritime Economy, International Affairs, Governance, & Health Policy 🇮🇳
Viral | 73 year former soldier Balvinder Singh Chadha collapsed & died dancing-waving the national tricolor flag on patriotic Maa Tujhe Salaam song during a yoga event in Indore on Friday.
This is a very important point.
As a physician caring for the sickest group - critically ill cirrhosis patients on a daily basis, this is a difficult but daily decision that I have to painfully take, mostly because the majority of my patients in the ICU are young males (25 to 40 years) with alcohol related liver disease, many of them requiring life support.
One, it is not easy to let go of a young patient, especially when they have a young wife and very small children and especially if they are the sole bread-winner. The family collapses. It is a descent into hell for them. You wont realize it because you are on a 9 to 5 job. But it does happen.
Two, it is not easy to lead the grief-stricken but financially burdened small family to make a decision of letting go. It is never easy. I have been doing this for decades, but trust me, it is always as difficult as it was the first time. In India, unfortunately, we have to choose between saving a patient's life and saving their money most of the time. And it is a harrowing and unfair comparison. Money matters. All the time. Because we do not have a system that rightfully promotes equality in healthcare.
Three, in India, most doctors, have not yet learned the art and care of "letting go." Empathetically letting go off a critically-ill patient is devastating, but also a rationally important aspect of clinical medicine.
Where medical science ends, wholesome empathy begins. There is a clinical medicine which does not feature any drugs or protocol. It features only care, love, empathy, concern, worry; and blood, sweat and tears. It is the most powerful aspect of clinical medicine and it is called "Palliative Care"
- people normally call it palliative "care" and not palliative "medicine" for a reason.
It is the branch of medicine that lets doctors know that we are humans first and everything else later. Every doctor, from the MBBS student to the superspecialist MUST learn the art of palliation.
It is mandatory. It is a worthy bittersweet symphony.
Because initiating palliation and discussing palliation options does not mean medical science lost, but humanism won.
A large number of hospitals make money by milking critically ill patients. This is blood money. If you cant save a life, move on to saving the rest of the family by engaing with them with empathy and helping them being financially stable, instead of leeching out their resources.
Lean to call the right shots for your patient and family and not for yourself or your hospital.
I wrote about palliation in cirrhosis with my senior Dr. Chandankumar recently. Young hepatologists and fellows in hepatology or critical care doctors may please read this if interested:
Palliative Care for Patients with End-Stage Liver Disease via @JCEH_Hepatology
https://t.co/rPfpaf931m
Exciting news!
Tata Motors Finance has inked a strategic funding pact amounting Rs 22 Crores with Pallia Trans Logistics, a key player in the Car Carrier logistics space.
The pact marks a significant partnership milestone.
Visit the link to know more: https://t.co/iowSvLOvWg
Happy Vijaya Dashmi to all!
Sharing my piece in today's Indian Express. Recently, India asked Canada to cut down the size of its Indian mission. Contrary to Canada's contention, I argue that India's action is consistent with international law.
Excerpt:
Commenting on the ongoing #IsraelPalestineConflict@urvashikhona says, "Regardless of which side of the conflict people are on, the bloodshed of innocent lives remains a universal tragedy painted in the same shade of blood red."
From Bullets to Bylines: Risks, Challenges, and Behind the Scenes of Frontline War Journalism
In my latest piece, I delve into the intricacies of war Journalism with @MrityunjayNews & @urvashikhona.
#geopolitics#Frontline#war#media
https://t.co/WPua1X4zpt
Today, Israeli government held a screening of raw footage of Jews being slaughtered by terrorists from Gaza, for 200 journalists associated with global publications
Israel held the event after facing “Holocaust-denial-like phenomenon happening in real-time”
Many journalists have written threads on this platform about the 43-minute footage. The killers reportedly attached go pro devices to their bodies to record the killings, and sent celebratory messages to their parents about killing many Jews in a go. Over 1400 Israeli civilians died in the 7 October terror attack by Hamas
Just a couple of days ago, many of these publications had amplified Hamas’s claim that an Israeli airstrike killed 500 people in a Gaza hospital. It turned out to be a wholly unverified claim, and Israel has since released footage saying it was a Palestinian rocket that burst and caused casualties
Will the global media finally stop acting as Hamas spokespersons and propagandists?
My latest piece in @IndianExpress
on the Delhi High Court’s order in a case brought by Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor to protect his specific manner of saying ‘Jhakaas’.
Publicity Rights should not translate into celebrities’ monopoly over language. https://t.co/XOevszZqqq