DOCTOR'S DILEMMA (5)
DOCTOR'S DILEMMA (5)
DR RAVI BAPAT
Sometimes a physician ends up as the victim of media
sensationalism. Once a patient with large splenomegaly (enlarged spleen) was
admitted to hospital and diagnosed to have a rare disease. It was explained to
the patient and his relatives that surgery for removal of the spleen was
indicated. The operation was successful and the spleen was excised. Fancy my
consternation when the newspapers next day reported that a large mass had been
removed from the body of the patient that contained ants, scorpions etc.! The
attending doctors were asked for an explanation! Surely the media has a duty to
check all medical reports with the doctors concerned before publishing such
drivel?
Compilation of professional reminiscences of specialists - edited by M.V.Kamath and Dr.Rekha Karmarkar.