Story 1 – Nikita called up Satyan at the usual time. It is 9.30 pm in India where Nikita is, and It is 11 am in USA where Satyan is. Satyan has been posted in USA for almost 18 months now. Today, yet again, Nikita is not in her usual softness and that is how she was for last few days. She straight away asks “When will you come back Satyan”? Not having much of an answer Satyan asked, “What happened”?
“Nothing, I need you here” replied Nikita. It has not been not her usual nature in last 9 years of being married to Satyan, to be irritated but then this is how she has been in last few days.
Satyan too was getting on the edge by now. “I am talking to you twice every day and at least once it is video call. I do whatever I can to keep you pleased, but it seems it is not enough.” Nikita was in no mood and shouted back– “No it is not. I am your wife and I need you to be physically with me. You are not here when I have to struggle with the child’s school. You are not here, when I have to manage the repairs along with my office. You are not here when I wake up scared in the middle of the night. No it is not enough to be on the other side of the phone” and She hanged up. Story 2 – “Is she taking the medicines I prescribed?” asked Dr. Shrivastava. Rebecca took all her efforts to hold back her sobs and said “Yes doctor. Betha is continuously on medication. But she is still turning blue and for sure, she is not been able to breathe. I can’t see her like this”. Dr. Shrivastava was concerned “Yes, even I noticed on the video call that she is turning blue. She needs a surgery for her Hole in Heart. She needs to be here in India with me”. Rebecaa could not hold herself back, “Doctor, there are no flights because of COVID. We cannot travel. She is unable to breathe. Please tell me what can I do”? Dr. Shrivastava had no answers. He murdered a prayer, knowing well that only a surgery can save Betha.
Betha, Rebecca’s 2 year old daughter, had a big Ventricular Septal defect. They were in Uganda, where the paediatric cardiac surgery was not much advanced. Rebecca travelled to get a heart hole closure surgery in India when Betha was just 6 months old and met with Dr. Shrivastava who suggested that Betha did not meet the surgical criteria, being too young and weighing much less. He prescribed some medicines and asked Rebecca to come back after Betha gains 11 kg of weight. Since then, Dr. Shrivastava has remained continuously in touch over calls and video calls. It has been 15 months. The dead line was well passed but due to lock down the mother and the child could not travel. Dr. Shrivastava did remain in touch over phone but surely can’t do a surgery online. Betha’s condition needed a surgical closure of hole in the heart. Next day morning Dr. Shrivastva got a message on his what’s app from Rebecca. Betha passed away last night. Even if the world has accepted the new normal of being on line but I am not sure how normal is this new normal. Many people have accepted a certain thing to be done on calls and video calls but certainly being online has its own limitation. Long distance relationships in Healthcare -Telemedicine for that matter can handle non serious issues of fever and cough, but for cases where a patient like Betha who needed a cardiac surgery in India, telemedicine was of no help. Though, there is no denying that Tele diagnostics and tele ICUs have helped but to what extent is yet to be known. Even if a Tele-diagnostic may help diagnose a condition like a Hole in the heart, it certainly can’t help treat it. A tele ICU can help monitor a patient better but the doctor on this end can only suggest the medicines which are available on the other end. Often, the medicines are not available.
I am not sure what happened to Nikita and Satyan. I sincerely hope that things did work out but it is true that a spouse being there but unavailable is not an easy situation to be in. Yes, tele connectivity has improved communication but can it replace the physical presence of a spouse or can replace the physical presence of a surgeon needed for a heart surgery?
Abhik Moitra
Founder - HBG Medical Assistance
General Secretary – FHWP
care@hbgmedicalassistance.com
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