Know your patient to know his disease

CHENNAI: Service is at the heart of the medical profession and doctors must quietly work instead of running after publicity. Those who serve the community around them need to be encouraged and reminded about their obligations from time to time.  ‘This was the message at a function held by the Rotary Club of Chennai Central District 3230, to honour eminent diabetologist Dr CV Krishnaswamy.Krishnaswamy was presented with the Vocational Service Award for his yeoman service in running the TAG-VHS Diabetic Research Centre at the Voluntary Health Services Hospital in Taramani. He received the award from fellow Padma Shri awardee and eminent medical practitioner Dr KV Thiruvengadam.Both Krishnaswamy and Thiruvengadam stressed the neecd for those in the medical profession to pass on their knowledge and experience to their successors. “In the practice of medicine it is obligatory that what you learn and experience is passed on to the next generation. Most of that is not present in text books,” said Dr Thiruvengadam.Further building on that, Dr Krishnaswamy recalled the worlds of a famous urologist. “For god’s sake pass on all you know to your students, assistants and juniors. Because, when you fall ill, you would want to be treated the way you would treat your patients,” he said. Both the eminent doctors also spoke of the need for compassion in the medical profession. “You cannot treat a set of numbers returned from a lab. You have to know your patient to know his disease. Love, humour and humility are the best medicines that one can get. If they fail, there is only one course of action. Increase the dosage,” said Krishnaswamy. He pointed out to the audience that the medical treatment was a team game and dedicated his award to the nurses, colleagues and staff at VHS, and also to his wife.