Just a piece of meat

A few weeks ago, 40 year old Manmeeth my sister required to undergo surgery.

Normally independent and strong spirited Manmeeth was inexplicably very nervous and so Mohini my wife and I accompanied her to Pune's most reputed hospital, where she had already been booked by her surgeon.

The hospital handled the paperwork for her admission and collection of advance payment  very smoothly and efficiently. Soon after she went up to her room, a small army of 23 people went to work, doing their assigned 'jobs' in a factory like manner  preparing Manmeeth for surgery. 

Surprisingly except for the surgeon and the anesthesist no one engaged with Manmeeth to make her feel comfortable or provide her any sense of being cared for.  As observers we felt uneasy and completely helpless. All we could do was to hold her hand in ours.

A weak smile on her face and a strong grip on Mohini's hand did not disguise her nervousness as they took her to the operation theatre. 

Three hours later they wheeled Manmeeth back into the room, where she remained in a state of agony and dazed for the rest of the day and night.  

My unease grew the longer I stayed by her bedside. Most of the staff were were fairly efficient, but they  appeared  least concerned with Manmeeth the patient. I could not overcome my disappointment that the hospital staff had touched her body but not her being. To them she was just a job, a patient number and could have been nothing more than a living piece of meat.

Most hospitals like to claim they are in the health-care business. 

This is very misleading in the sense is that people go to the hospital only when they are ill. Therefore hospitals do not provide health-care they provide illness-care and that too coldly and badly.

What is true is that illness-care has become a business and that is not necessarily a bad thing. What is terrible is that the business of most hospitals only focuses on mere profits without consideration for the customer (in this case the patient) or the staff. Such hospitals will eventually lose their business whenever a competitor with more patient focus will emerge.

The surgeons and the hospital staff all said the operation had been a success. 

In physical terms  they were probably correct. Psychologically and emotionally the surgery was a disaster. They had treated a body and not a person.

Being compassionate is what makes a us human. 

Ask yourself honestly, "Have I lost my compassion?" 

If you have, then remember it's never too late to re-find your compassion because you never know when you might need it yourself.