anonymous
1st April 2019
MANTRA FOR SCORPION STING? - 13
MANTRA FOR SCORPION STING? - 13
DR R.D. LELE
What? No Medicine?
A former Health Minister of Maharashtra had publicly
castigated doctor for unnecessary and wasteful prescribing. Shortly thereafter,
he requested me to see his 15-year old son who was laid up in bed. After
examining him and doing the necessary investigation, I came to the conclusion
that the lad was suffering from hepatitis. A virus infection. I explained to
the patient and his anxious parents that Hepatitis A infection, in previously
healthy young persons is 100 per cent curable with no future sequelae. There is
no specific drug to kill the virus and the illness runs a self-limiting course
varying from three weeks to three months but all recover completely, hence no
medication is required. The patient was relieved that I had not prescribed any
tablets or injections but the Health Minister called me on the phone three
times, saying: "Doctor saheb, you are not prescribing any medicine? Don't you
think he needs at least some vitamins?". I reminded him of his recent
diatribe and said he should be happy to find at least one doctor who is not
doing what the Minister had condemned!