MediZens

This happened a few days ago. A family came from Chennai to a small village without getting proper E-Pass and somehow managed not getting caught at the checkposts too. The health dept and village administration traced them somehow, stuck notice on their door and advised home quarantine for 14 days. They were asked to go to the hospital for getting tested, the very next day. They did not even have the basic sense to wear a mask, that too when going to a hospital, that too when going to get tested for corona. The hospital staff shouted at them for their poor hollow skull and gave them each a face mask from their limited hospital supply. The next day, when test reports came, three of this four member family were declared positive. The hospital contacted them through phone, informed them about the result and asked them to stay home, not to go anywhere, assured them not to get worried and officials are on their way. But they insisted not to send anyone to their home and they will come to th...

In India, around 12 lakh people are diagnosed with cancer every year. Sadly around 8 lakh die of the same, every year. Cancer has a case fatality rate of over 66%. One woman dies of cervical cancer every 8mins in our country. But as of May 25, two months into the lockdown, only around 1.4 lakh people  have been tested positive for Covid19, and of them, only 4021 have died which brings the case fatality rate to 2.87%. So, Is corona really the killer virus, or Is it overrated? Remember, We have arrived at the present figure only because of all the strict measures taken such as lockdown, social distancing, personal protection, quarantine, testing, isolation etc. But what would have happened if the virus was allowed to follow its natural course? Lets look at some statistics. On March 25, at the beginning of lockdown, there were 562 active cases. Lets consider there was only one case who was not isolated. Preliminary studies have estimated a global R0 value of 2-3. Let us consider the o...

Though I've intubated a few times during my residency it really doesn't count because, I was never alone. My backup with loads of experience was standing right next to me. We also had a videolaryngoscope and a fibreoptic bronchoscope just in case. But once I was out of Medschool, I was all alone, on my own.    I got into my job right the next day of getting registered to the Medical Council (just bragging). My designation was "Emergency Care Physician" in an Emergency Care and Stabilization Centre in Chennai.Chennai as you may know is a large city with a huge population and hence a huge TRAFFIC. In case of any emergency, shifting the patient from the scene to a tertiary care centre costed the valuable 'golden hours' and mortality was pretty high. To overcome this, Govt came up with the idea of Emergency Care Centres scattered within the city,which would serve as stabilization centres and I started my career in one such centre. It was my second week of joining ...

    One fine night at around 11.30PM, When I jus entered Stage 3 NREM sleep,My calling bell went off. With palpitations resulting from sudden arousal from my deep sleep, I went to attend the door, scratching my head, mumbling to myself 'Who wants what now?' As I opened the door,I found a 50 year old man grinning at me with bright eyes..! It was my neighbourhood shopkeeper whom I met the previous day, and he came to know that I am a doctor. "Hello..How are you?What happened?"    'Greetings Sir..I was walking on my way home,and I accidentally stepped on a snake' "OMG..What happened?Did it bite you?"    'No Sir..I only stepped on it..It ran away' "Let me see ur legs" I checked for bite marks but cud'nt find any. I reassured him, and told him to go to the hospital immediately if he has any symptoms like difficulty in breathing,double vision etc He nodded patieny and stretched his hand towards me. I thought, May be he is offering me ...