Dilemma Between Truthfulness And Kindness

It was 2 AM. I was in deep sleep in a hospital bed, not as a patient but as a duty house surgeon in the causality department of headquarters hospital at Thanjavoor, when I was woken up by the male nursing assistant to attend to an emergency patient. As was my wont, I at once became alert and hurried to have a look at the patient. It seems he was staying in a local rest house and he retired to bed around 9.30PM, after leaving instructions with the reception desk to wake him up around 1A.M since he had to catch a train. At the appointed time, the hotel staff found him in an unconscious state and had brought him to hospital.

I found the young man named Syed in a comatose state. As I felt this case needs evaluation by the senior doctor on duty, I sent for him. He made a quick survey of the patient and enquired if I had done ammonia test to which I put up an ignorant look. He asked the duty nurse to bring a cotton swab dipped in Liquor Ammonia. kept in a shelf there. He gently inserted the swab into the patient’s nostrils, upon which the patient jumped up with a sneeze and violent cough and watery eyes.

The senior doctor opined that the patient was feigning. Upon questioning, the patient confessed to the falsehood. He was recently married and did not want to go back to duty to Saudi where he was employed and due to return in a week’s time. He planned to get admitted in a hospital for a couple of days and obtain a medical certificate to extend his stay. He pleaded with the senior doctor to admit him and provide him with a certificate for rest and continuation of treatment for about a month. The senior physician was annoyed and dismissed him. He advised me not to encourage such falsehood in our practice. The story did not end there.

Next night same time. I was woken up again by the same fellow; but this time with different complaints. He was having acute abdominal pain. I felt sorry for the young man’s plight. Fortunately for him, the senior doctor of the night was different, and he was staying with me in the house surgeon’s quarters. I put up the facts of the case to him. This time the senior doctor admitted him under his care in his ward. Learnt later that he furnished him a certificate to the effect that he needs rest and treatment for a month.

Later when I thanked him for his kindness, he retorted” Why not help him? He paid one hundred Rupees for the help rendered.” I was taken aback. Questioned him, if it was ok to accept money from a patient in a govt hospital. He shot back” I did not ask him. He wanted to show his gratitude. I did not want to displease him”.

I am still wondering which senior doctor did the right thing. Whether the one who did not encourage falsehood or the one who showed kindness, though he accepted money?

 

Ms iyervigi, Agree with you.But sometimes against my own decisions, I had to act. Used to curse myself at such times.

 

Ms. Itsmylife143, Thanks for your response. I could not be truthful at all times to avoid hurting people close to you.

 

Ms Jayasala42, I perused your response several times. I sense some anger in you against falsehood and liars.I feel really sad that Sathyam has no meaning nowadays.For having been honest, I had to undergo tribulations during my service. My appreciations for a befitting response

 

Ms Poovai, First of all my profound thanks for your appreciation. Yes, still the dilemma continues. As for as possible, I had avoided giving false leave certificates even to my friends and relatives with the reason that I don't want to get entangled in any disciplinary cases if they are caught. Once they knew I am not the person to issue false certicates, they will never ask. But it had not affected my relationship. With a little bit of tact , I surmounted such problems.