A friend’s father needs bypass surgery. Urgently. The father already has five stents. His cardiologist ruled out angioplasty again. My friend asked if I knew who was the best heart surgeon in Mumbai. I didn’t. But I had doctor friends who did. They gave me not one name, but four. One of whom I had interviewed and put on the front page of the Times in the mid-2000s when I was an editor there. But since then, this heart surgeon had become one of the most avaricious men in medicine. Everything was
about money. I used to respect him. Now I dislike him. So I ruled him out.
My friend called the numbers of the three other heart surgeons. The first two did not answer. Nor did they respond to text messages which gave as reference the names of my doctor friends who suggested them. The third did. An appointment was fixed for
9 pm. When my friend reached his father, the waiting room had over 30 potential patients pacing the floor in anxiety. My friend sent me a video. The surgeon was in the hospital, operating. And the receptionist told them his next surgery was at 7 am. He
worked pretty much around the clock. Their turn came past midnight. The surgeon, though visibly exhausted, was patient and kind. They were reassured by his
manner. But the surgeon was booked solid till the first week of June. In despair, my friend called the last number. Of the renowned cardiothoracic specialist who was arguably the best. And also the greediest. His receptionist bluntly informed my
friend, “The bypass will cost you over 50 lakhs. Only if you can afford that, come. Don’t waste the surgeon’s time otherwise. We are not interested in your 2000 rupees consulting fees.” From heartbreaking experience, I know when somebody you love
is hooked onto a hospital’s life support system, your God is the doctor first. You are helpless. But hopeful. You expect a miracle. Which might not be possible. But an empathetic doctor is the next best thing. A doctor whose time is not money. Who feels your angst? Treats you with kindness. Soft words of encouragement. Gentle touches of reassurance. Whose presence is promised? I don’t understand insufferable highbrow doctors who start to believe they are God… but act unlike Him.
About Mark Manuel
The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.
With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.
Further
His interviews have been featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.
Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.
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