The Medical Life
" Did you check your NEET rank?" Dr. Vasanth asked Dr. Jayan, as he walked towards his college junior who was standing near the small tea shop right across the hospital. Ever since medical school, they shared a good rapport, even though Vasanth was a year senior to Jayan. Inhaling a puff from his cigarette, Dr. Jayan was thoughtful. "Not yet", he said throwing out a ball of hazy grey smoke from his nose and mouth, "Was caught up in the ICU. " Dr. Vasanth has also appeared for the exam. He opened his mobile and showed his junior. "I got 7856. I hope I get Pediatrics. DNB I think I will surely get." Nodding, Dr. Jayan said, "See you tomorrow. I am off duty now." Dr. Vasanth still had 6 more hours for his shift to complete.Walking back to his cabin, he checked his messages. His college WhatsApp group was teaming with messaging, mostly congratulatory, for the people who cleared NEET.
"Dr., an emergency case has come", said Sujatha, head nurse of the ICU department. He rushed to the ICU for he briefing. "The patient is Aby George, a 35 year old journalist. He seems to have suffered a heart attack. He was an investigative journalist and had exposed the land mafia dealings."
"35? Hmm...did he have a medical history of this sort? Or any other complications?" asked Dr. Vasanth
"Doesn't seem to. His family has denied"
*****
In another part of the city, politician Mani was busy planning for the by-election. Although currently out of favour with the party leadership, he had been a force to reckon with in the past. There was a plot to remove his candidature within the party lines, but he could clear that with some timely help from his team of followers. He needed to win the seat to restore his image . As he sat on his cushy chair, Mani closed his eyes. He could see how in his youth he was central to the party's growth. The top brass now doesn't favour the old war-horses, he thought.
"Journalist Aby George has passed away. He was admitted with a chest pain to LP Hospital. Police is investigating all angles, Medical negligence is not being ruled out. " Mani's attention was grabbed by the television screen. Like a snake going for the kill, he sat there calculating his moves. Quick phone calls later, he got details of the Dr. who attended Aby. Mani sat there, swiping his mobile screen. He was going through Dr. Vasanth's facebook profile and photos. He stopped swiping, and looked intently at one of the photos, taken a week back. "Enjoying with friends in Munnar" read the title, and Dr. Vasanth was pictured in it with drink.
The next few hours had been busy. Mani arranged for a meeting with the late journalist's family. A few photo ops and donations later, he walked out. The next phase of the plan was going to be crucial.
"Alcoholic doctors like Dr. Vasanth should be behind bars. He is a demon in a white coat." thundered Mani in the TV studio where he was called to discuss the death of the journalist.
It wasn't long before Dr. Vasanth was suspended, pending an inquiry. "I have done nothing wrong. I was not drunk while I attended the patient. ", Dr. Vasanth said. Pain was visible in his voice, but the hospital decided to suspend him, otherwise politically motivated campaign would tarnish their reputation.
"Take care bro. You will come back stronger from this ". Dr. Jayan tried to console his senior, who fought to hold his tears back. Failing in his attempt, he hugged his junior and wept.
Going back home was difficult. Radio channels, WhatsApp and other social media had done their job beautifully. A young doctor, who was just spreading his wings, was vilified. And the message had been amplified a 100 times over, one WhatsApp forward at a time.
As he tossed around in his bed, contemplating what to do next, he thought that may be the family of the late journalist would understand him. He needed to come clear, at least in front of Aby's family.
Jessa George, late Aby's wife understood Vasanth's situation. But media had already passed their verdict.
"Dr., an emergency case has come", said Sujatha, head nurse of the ICU department. He rushed to the ICU for he briefing. "The patient is Aby George, a 35 year old journalist. He seems to have suffered a heart attack. He was an investigative journalist and had exposed the land mafia dealings."
"35? Hmm...did he have a medical history of this sort? Or any other complications?" asked Dr. Vasanth
"Doesn't seem to. His family has denied"
*****
In another part of the city, politician Mani was busy planning for the by-election. Although currently out of favour with the party leadership, he had been a force to reckon with in the past. There was a plot to remove his candidature within the party lines, but he could clear that with some timely help from his team of followers. He needed to win the seat to restore his image . As he sat on his cushy chair, Mani closed his eyes. He could see how in his youth he was central to the party's growth. The top brass now doesn't favour the old war-horses, he thought.
"Journalist Aby George has passed away. He was admitted with a chest pain to LP Hospital. Police is investigating all angles, Medical negligence is not being ruled out. " Mani's attention was grabbed by the television screen. Like a snake going for the kill, he sat there calculating his moves. Quick phone calls later, he got details of the Dr. who attended Aby. Mani sat there, swiping his mobile screen. He was going through Dr. Vasanth's facebook profile and photos. He stopped swiping, and looked intently at one of the photos, taken a week back. "Enjoying with friends in Munnar" read the title, and Dr. Vasanth was pictured in it with drink.
The next few hours had been busy. Mani arranged for a meeting with the late journalist's family. A few photo ops and donations later, he walked out. The next phase of the plan was going to be crucial.
"Alcoholic doctors like Dr. Vasanth should be behind bars. He is a demon in a white coat." thundered Mani in the TV studio where he was called to discuss the death of the journalist.
It wasn't long before Dr. Vasanth was suspended, pending an inquiry. "I have done nothing wrong. I was not drunk while I attended the patient. ", Dr. Vasanth said. Pain was visible in his voice, but the hospital decided to suspend him, otherwise politically motivated campaign would tarnish their reputation.
"Take care bro. You will come back stronger from this ". Dr. Jayan tried to console his senior, who fought to hold his tears back. Failing in his attempt, he hugged his junior and wept.
Going back home was difficult. Radio channels, WhatsApp and other social media had done their job beautifully. A young doctor, who was just spreading his wings, was vilified. And the message had been amplified a 100 times over, one WhatsApp forward at a time.
As he tossed around in his bed, contemplating what to do next, he thought that may be the family of the late journalist would understand him. He needed to come clear, at least in front of Aby's family.
Jessa George, late Aby's wife understood Vasanth's situation. But media had already passed their verdict.
Beautiful narrative! Fit to go as a series of blogs. Would love to know how Dr. Vasanth handled the situation and what happened in the story later on.
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