LIFE - COLORES INFINITUM (31)
The
grandpa-aged uncle is in urgent need of some medical intervention. He needs a
doctor and medicines that can work on him. Age is not the only factor that is
adding to his problems. At 81, he is burdened with many physiological problems
and the medical diagnosis has failed to put forward any effective hint about the
problem directly affecting his mobility and so his life.
Medical
consultants like neurologists, cardiologists and orthopaedic surgeons have
ruled out that is he affected from any chronic illness of nerves, heart or
bones. Even a psychiatrist was approached but his medicines produced negative
effect making his ‘difficult mobility’ even more difficult.
He
has had a long critical medical illness history but the specialists are unable
to make any sense of it in the context of his present condition. His one ear is
dead since the early 70’s; other is partly working with hearing aid. He had an
open heart surgery in the 90’s. He regularly takes blood pressure pills. Last
year, he was hospitalized after danger of cardiac failure and some seven-eight
liters of fluid was taken out of his body.
Another
problem that has much to do with his increasing immobility is increasing sense
of inertness in his legs and abdomen.
This
problem began some five-six years ago from legs and now it has reached to the
abdomen. He feels a sort of heaviness in these parts weakening his legs
rendering him unable to stand-up or to walk even smaller distances. His abdomen
stiffens like a hard ball. He feels extreme weakness, but surprisingly there is
no sensation of pain.
MRI
and every other medical diagnosis recommended by the experts have been carried
out. Even then, the categories of medical experts mentioned above have failed
to detect any infirmity and so to resolve the crisis.
This
time, it was thought to go for some other form of treatment, preferably
Homeopathy. After deliberations and advices, a name of South
Delhi based doctor was found to be most impressive. Now, the
grandpa was to be taken to the clinic of the doctor.
On
calling the clinic, the people there tell that any nearest appointment
available is only in April 2013. If there is urgency, then we can walk-in on
the days the doctor sees the walk-in patients. There is no appointment for it
over the phone. One needs to come to the clinic and wait for his turn to see
the doctor.
As
the need is urgent, it is decided that the grandpa should be taken to the
nearest walk-in session. One fine day, they begin for the Bengali dominated
locality where the clinic is. The doctor’s sitting hours are 4:30 to 8 PM it is
told. They start at 3:30 PM and reach the clinic by 4:30 PM.
There,
they are made to sit in multilayered queues. On surface, the number of people
waiting doesn’t look more than 40 and they breathe easy thinking it should be
over by 6 PM.
While
enquiring for the charges, they are told by others that the doctor doesn’t
charge the consultation fee from the walk-in patients. They only have to pay
for the medicine. Only the patients coming through the appointment need to pay
the consultation fee of Rs. 1000.
The
claim of charity, as claimed by the clinic’s website, they think, is somewhat
true. Yes, the person accompanying the grandpa had one some googling on the
doctor and had some basic information about the doctor.
The
website claims the clinic has distributed over millions of charity
subscriptions over the year. Also, he could spot patients there who could not
afford the high consultation fee of Rs. 100. So, giving the prescription free
made a renowned doctor accessible to the needy. So far so good.
A
short while after 4:30 PM, the call is made for everyone to take the
registration number. The grandpa’s number is 36. Also, they come to know that
everyone waiting there is not to see the famed doctor only. There are other consultants
in the clinic and many of them are getting registered for them as well. Another
prospect of breathing easy!
But
it ended at this point only.
To
continue..
©/IPR: Santosh Chaubey - http://severallyalone.blogspot.com/
