Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 18, 2008
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Online edition of India's National Newspaper Monday, Feb 18, 2008 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version |
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Tamil Nadu
As a general physician (or family physician) at Holbrook in Australia since 1970, Arunachalam Lakshmanan has always reposed faith in the technique of accurate diagnosis. He believes that the ability to understand the patients and their problems should not die with the advent of body scanning technology. Hailing from a remote village – Vadhambacherry of Palladam Taluk in Coimbatore District – Dr. Lakshmanan has spent more than three decades treating a number of cases. These include even road accident cases that he saved with initial treatment and referred to tertiary hospitals. Recently awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to society through his profession, Dr. Lakshmanan tells K.V. Prasad on a visit to his hometown how important it is to master the art of diagnosis. “Listen to the patients,” he says. “It helps in knowing exactly what they suffer from. Only then can they be referred to the proper specialist”. Hi-tech‘Listen first and then ask questions’ is his prescription for general physicians. Is diagnosis a dying art because of dependence on technology? “Fresh medical graduates do not want to work in the countryside because imaging technology is available only in big hospitals. This is because medical education itself has become hi-tech. This is the mode of training even from day one,” he points out. While a student and when he began his practice, the stethoscope was the trusted diagnostic equipment. “Now, the fresh graduates fear the consequences of wrong diagnosis. So they seek the aid of modern diagnostic methods to avoid these. Small hospitals may have only electro cardiogram equipment and a defibrillator.” Dr. Lakshmanan, who is credited with donating funds to build nursing homes and to buy ambulance, recalls how he had detected a rupture in the pancreas by analysing the symptoms listed by the patient. The specialist to whom the patient was referred had a word of appreciation for the accurate diagnosis. “Family physicians must be brave and equipped to deal all cases. Besides, they are an important pillar without which the specialists will not be able to begin treatment quickly. Accurately diagnosis from physicians is of immense help to specialists. Empathetic listening apart, general physicians must touch the patients. “Shake hands with them as part of being warm to them. In the process, you will know whether they have fever.” Physicians can claim that they benefit from a lot of reading and surfing the net. But, continuing medical education sessions can be more beneficial to them because specialists speak, answer questions and explain cases. As for practice, handling a variety of cases helps. In Australia, family physicians have been instructed by the Government to contact 45 to 50 cases and ask them to come for free check up. This is a pointer to the physician being a vital part of primary health care. But, it all boils down to acquiring the ability to diagnose.
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