Jindal Clinics is proud to announce the release of the latest book by Dr. S. K. Jindal - the medical director of the institute and ex head, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, PGI Chandigarh.
The
book, meant for general reading chronicles the stories of some of the patients
seen by the author during a career of about half a century. It provides
glimpses of the trials and tribulations faced by patients and their doctors in
their heroic struggles against disease and death. It
also tends to project
the physician’s handling of the myths and dilemmas about disease management and
treatment modalities faced by different patients.
The
pen portraits reflected in this fascinating book encompass the lives of Prime
Ministers, Governors, Chief Ministers, Judges, highly placed officials,
army-men, police officers, newly married couples, precocious teen agers,
wealthy men and farm labourers. It is a captivating story of life and living
process. Full with vignettes from history, classical civilization, epics and
mythology, it is enjoyable to read and meaningful for the doctors, the patients
and the care-givers into disease management. A brief synopsis of its contents
follows:
Foreword
Prologue
1.
The Childhood Adventures: Life in a community riddled
with superstitions about health in a haunted house during 1950s in small towns
of Punjab. Medical practice was rather scarce and simple maladies were often
handled in medieval fashions.
2.
Dissection
Hall: Vivid scenes from the ‘dissection hall’ of the medical college
(Government Medical College, Patiala) during the author’s first year of MBBS in
1966-67. Does the virtual dissection now provide the same attachment with human
body?
3.
Patient with
Scalded Palms: Lessons during bed-side case demonstration in the
Skin Out-patient department. Was the reason of scalded palms in an otherwise
healthy young man?
4.
Labour Ward: Melodrama in
the busy ‘labour-room’ of the hospital while witnessing the first delivery by
the author during the final year MBBS.
5.
Bhag Singh: A former
army soldier who used to brag about fighting with enemy forces and cockroach
sized mosquitoes was admitted with cancer. Both he and the doctor were quite
afraid of catheterization at night for urinary obstruction.
6.
Emergency
Ward: Facing the first death in the over-crowded Emergency of the
Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh in 1972.
7.
JP – The
quintessential Leader or 1975: Story of Jai Prakash Narain during
the period of Emergency in India when he was interned in the hospital at
Chandigarh. His care was a real challenge for which the author along with
senior doctors faced political reverberations.
8.
Sherlock
Holmes: A senior police officer who suffered from a relatively uncommon
respiratory disease, was quite reluctant. It was Sherlock Holmes who helped in
treatment.
9.
The two oustees: Struggles
and superstitions of two village folks who suffered from chronic respiratory
disease, both were displaced from the land where Chandigarh was built as the
state capital of Punjab after Indian partition.
10. Culture
Shock: A young man from Denmark developed illness while visiting as a
tourist. Both he and his friend had a tough time in the hospital in the
beginning; both got adjusted very soon. On the other hand, Griffth who suffered
from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was evading law because of drug
abuse and trafficking.
11. ‘Morrie’
of Punjab: A senior Professor had a chronic muscle disease; his life was
almost a replica of the Morrie immortalized by Mitch Albom (see ‘Tuesdays with
Morrie’).
12. The American Dream: Handling of a
friend with asthma in Seattle during Fellowship in USA in 1982-83. He was a
tough nut to crack - willfully avoiding treatment for his problem.
13. Pickwick Papers: Obese
patients with respiratory sleep disorders. The main character like the fat Joe
of Pickwick Papers was blissfully unaware of his illness.
14. God’s own People: Patients
with respiratory problems belonging to ‘below poverty-line’ category faced
multiple hardships. Their innocence was often overwhelming and over-bearing.
15. Perseverance: A resolute youth was
determined to cure disabling emphysema of his grand-father. His misdirected
treatment proved disastrous.
16. Mr Prime Minister: Visit to Nepal for a medical
consultation. The Prime Minister had an exceptional medical knowledge.
17. Mountain out of a mole
hill: Pleasure
of curing small problems which looked threatening to others. But one needs to
know the problem!
18. Corporate Honchos: Treatment of the rich and the
mighty. One of them who suffered from a respiratory sleep disorder was quite
secretive about his visit to the doctor.
19. ‘If a man’s lungs pant with his work’: Problems of handling two senior
judges who suffered from brittle asthma! The severe and almost near-fatal
attacks used to develop with an electrifying speed.
20. Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate: Misconceptions about and
misinterpretations of non-specific medical tests! The test report was a good
excuse for the two patients to repeatedly visit the hospital.
21. Teenage Hiccups: Abrupt and angry outbursts of sick teenagers who
needed tender care.
22. Weakness of the Powerful: The powerful
politicians including Chief-ministers and Governors who suffered from asthma or
other respiratory diseases were as weak as the ordinary folks. Inhalation
therapy was particularly difficult to teach and gullibility was the greatest
weakness.
23. Marital Woes: Sickness as a stigma for ‘soon
to marry’ girls and boys. One young lady who suffered from asthma defied
medical advice with serious consequences.
24. The Stigma of Inderjeet: Isolation of
young Inderjeet for her tuberculosis. She conquered her illness with courage
and bravery.
25. University Dons: Teachers at the University were generally difficult
to convince. Professor Ahuja used to underplay his illness, while several others
were over concerned, sometimes about hypothetical illnesses.
26. Swami Anand: A pious and spiritual man
who imbibed the greatest human values!
27. The Devilish Test: Misinterpretation of a
simple medical test brought an engagement almost to a break-point. It was the
medical counselling which helped.
28. Yasin Mohammad: A bear performer who
suffered from asthma was quite magnanimous. Petty favours by unrecognizable
patients proved to be pleasant, sometimes even embarrassing.
29. Barriers: It was difficult to
communicate with an old man with hearing impairment. Yet the old man was quite
satisfied!
30. The Big League: The VIP attitudes of a
few senior officers often interfered with good medical management. It was
always better to shed the mask of bigness while seeking treatment.
31. Holy Water – The Last Wish: A holy priest was afraid of admission in the hospital for the fear
that his last wish may not be fulfilled. The medical personnel and the
facilities need to respect the wishes of patients with terminal illnesses.
32. One More world to go: ‘Not to be defeated’
attitude of a terminally sick patient.
33. Dilemma of Critical Care:
The real question is ‘When to opt for
assisted respiratory support?’
34. Knowledge – Explosion: 21st century –
the era of lung transplantation, advanced life-prolonging treatments and internet
with a quagmire of information.
The
book is available for purchase at:
Partridge India 000 008 10062
62
