I am not a 'doubting Thomas', nor do I want to be one such doubting Thomas. Yet, when we see the world, in its full bloom and in its full gloom, this Capitalist World raises doubts in me, about our various medical systems. Our readers may be aware that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Ms. Jayalalithaa passed away on 6th Dec. 2016. For about two months, she was under very special treatment at the prestigious Apollo Hospital of Chennai City. Though exact estimates of the amount spent by the Tamil Nadu Government for the medical treatment of Ms. Jayalalithaa are not available officially, people estimate it in the range of Rs. 200 million to Rs. 800 million (or Rs. 20 crore to Rs. 80 crore), or approx. $300,000 to $1.2 million. By Euro American standards, and by the local Euro-American price levels, these expenses may be low. But, by Indian conditions, Rs. 200 million to Rs. 800 million will definitely be a huge amount, and will be a burden on the debt-ridden Tamil Nadu State. Nevertheless, the people of Tamil Nadu, because of their immense love for their amma (Mother), may not bother much about the expenditure. About the actual reason for the demise of Ms. Jayalalitha, a theweek.in web page, contains a statement by Dr. Pratap C. Reddy, Chairman, Apollo HOspital Group. Click to go to theweek.in and study the statement of Dr. Reddy.. This statement, by and large, clears doubts about reasons for the sad demise of Ms. Jayalalitha. A quote from what Dr. Pratap C. Reddy said:
"...From the time she first came to our hospital in September, we have been with her throughout. In fact, I did not step out of Chennai in the last two months only because we cared for her deeply and wanted to do everything in our power to help her get well soon. Last week, before I went to Hyderabad for a one-day visit, I spoke to her. She was doing well and had the same gentle smile as always. She even watched a movie that day. And I told her that when I came back from Hyderabad, I would like to see her walk. We were even planning her discharge from the hospital, and we agreed to discuss it upon my return. I was shattered when I heard of her cardiac arrest when I returned. It was shocking because our cardiologists had been monitoring her closely, and the panel of specialists had not seen any major concerns in her cardiac reports right through her stay.
Our doctors were right next to her when she suffered the cardiac arrest. ..."
ybrao-a-donkey's personal views, which are not intended to be imposed on others. These views are not to be construed as adverse comments against Apollo HOspital Group or their doctors, or Late Ms. Jayalalithaa, AIDMK, or anybody else.
This particular blog post is not about whether there was any conspiracy or mystery in the death of Ms. Jayalalithaa. Courts have already dealt with those things.
It has already been more than 45 days since Ms. Jayalalithaa passed away. I am sorry for the delay in taking up this item. Reason: I have been in a dilemma/enigma, of whether I am competent to write about this subject. I am writing this, with a borrowed courage, saying myself "Better late, than never'.
What I wish to point out as briefly as possible at this stage:
Nearly a million dollars were spent. Doctors were continuously monitoring her progress. She made progress. At one point of time, she was given freedom to go home. She watched movies. She was about to walk. All her vital parameters were good, giving hope and optimism. But suddenly she had a cardiac arrest.
We cannot call this fate. In super-speciality Hospitals, numerous diagnostic tests are conducted almost everyday. I had some of my relatives got treated in ICU for respiratory infections, and cardiac ailments. Hence, I learnt through first hand experience and observation, that frequent diagnostic tests take place in hospitals, and patients pay for them repeatedly.
I had my father-in-law, and brother-in-law got treated in ICU for respiratory infections, and cardiac ailments. One of their relatives who himself is an MD (Modern medicine) wanted some ricci treatment to be done (some divine healing method, of which there are practitioners, about which I do not know). And in spite of objections by the treating Modern medical doctors, they got it done. One relative got cured, presumably by the modern medical treatment. Not only did he recover himself, but a childless person he was earlier, he has got a child. Others passed away, owing to cardiac attacks, with afflux of time, and atrophy of bodies.
In case of Ms. Jayalalithaa also, the people of Tamil Nadu, leaders of Tamil Nadu, got numerous yagnams (sacrifices), homams (worship with sacred-fire, similar to yagnams, yAgams) , religious prayers of all religions, performed. Nothing came to her help. Nor did the 24x7 continuous watch by expert doctors of a prestigious hospital group, another prestigious Government Hospital AIIMS, New Delhi, consultation with a UK specialist, consultations with Singapore Specialists could NOT ONLY failed to SAVE HER, BUT ALSO FAILED TO PREDICT HER IMPENDING CARDIAC ARREST , WHILE SHE WAS BEING CONTINUOUSLY DECLARED FIT TO GO HOME. About failure to save, I have no grievance.
The question is: How all the latest diagnostic techniques, tools, equipment, failed to help in predicting? For me this question is important because: India has 1300 million (1.3 billion) population. Most of them are poor. Many State Governments have started special Health Care Schemes, Medical Reimbursement Schemes to private hospitals, almost on No-cash-payment basis, for receiving treatment in Super Speciality Hospitals. The Central Government also has initiated some Special Health Insurance Schemes. Private Sector Insurance Companies are also fiercely competing with one another, to hard-sell health insurance policies.
I have a friend who pays about Rs.40,000 per annum, for the Health Insurance of himself and his wife. This is his annual recurring expenditure. He hopes that someday, he or his wife would fall ill, and the Health Insurance will come to his rescue.
Now, what is the use of a Modern Medical System, and the Diagnostic Procedures adopted by it, which cannot at least predict with some reasonable accuracy-error rate? In case of prediction of weather conditions, India's Meteorological Department (IMD) is doing yeomen service in predicting rains and cyclones, with reasonable accuracy. Why the modern Medical System is failing?
SOME AYURVEDA (INDIAN TRADITIONAL MEDICAL SYSTEM) NOTES. Source: AshTAnga hridayam, of VagbhaTa Junior, Volume 1, Chapter of "Sutra sthAnam" (Area of Principles). Language Sanskrit. In Roman Script
vyAdhiyE upariyO
vyAdhir bhavati uttara kAlajaha
upakrama vighAtI ca
saha upadravam ucyatE.
Approx. English gist: An ailment which arises at a later stage, which obstructs the treatment of the existing first ailment, is called 'upadravam' (disastrous danger).
This verse has a lengthy commentary, in the Telugu edition of ashTAnga hridayam available on Net. I am unable to translate it or reproduce it here, as this blog post will become lengthy and clumsy. That commentary in that book has an additional observation for the in-capabilities of women to endure strong medications. This is just for information only.
Besides, respiratory troubles aggravate during ritu sandhi period. ritu=season of 2 months. sandhi=junction, joint, link. ritu sandhi = Approx. 15 days period, during which one of the six Indian Seasons change from one season to another. During Oct-Nov. 'sarat' season (season intervening between rains and winter) recedes, and hemantam (prelude to winter, a sort of later-autumn) starts. During the two ritu sandhis i.e. Sarat-to-hemantam, and hemantam-to-SiSiram (autumn-to-winter), not only sick-sufferers, but also healthy persons have to exercise extra care in their food, movements, etc.
There are more verses in the first and second chapters of ashTAnga hridayam, some of which may be useful to us in prevention of ailments. Whenever, I find time, I shall try to quote some of them. We need not agree/accept every verse in the treatise.
To continue. "Medical Systems and their Efficacies" is a 1,000 page subject. To continue to add/edit. सशेष. ఇంకా ఉంది.
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ఘోరమైన విమర్శలకు కూడ స్వాగతం, జవాబులు ఇవ్వబడతాయి. Harsh Criticism is also welcome.