Sunday Surkhi - iPatient

 Interesting title, is'nt it?
 I borrowed this word (from a professor) as I was wondering myself to invent such a term. This prof. of Medicine actually lamenting about the gradual decline in PE (Physical Examination) skills of today's physicians. Makes a very illuminating 'discovery' of these aspects of medical practice and introduces the use of the now famous (champion)
'WATSON', (that he will be common in the hospitals)
 how, "he" established his iSuperiority over the established champions of "Jeopardy" on TV
I had expressed such anxieties myself speaking about CT scan use in a scientific meeting (of IMANA in Missouri) in 1984 that the student's (and intern's) understanding of mental exercise and clinical examinations for diagnosis of strokes and their differential diagnosis is going to start declining.
 I remember when I was confronted by the first article in 1964-5, "Computers in Medicine", I laughed with a sneer on my face
ha! now , how can a computer take the place of the physician diagnosing a disease or prescribing?

Well, we are almost there already, and yes, as the professor says'
"..What worries me even more that this ease of ordering a scan has caused doctors's most basic skills in examining the body to atrophy."
 I did not require me to be a genius to say the same thing 28 years ago, it has been apparent to every clinician all along. I am already observing the same and the "toxic effects" of lab and technology supporting machines of doctors. This is the major difference of a Pakistani-Indian young graduate and the American young graduate who is unquestionably a superior 'technocrat'.

For we see now that the results of all the tests etc.    "and the engine for all of that, indeed the place where dialogue between doctors and nurses takes place is the computer."
I clearly remember, while at work they declared
"From January 1st, 2000, all records will be on computers and no hand written notes are allowed"
 My friend said, "I am going to have a heart attack".
 And after that what he observed, just like I did too, is that
"You know we now face the computers and keep talking with our backs to the patient (in the out patient).
The human touch is becoming less and less, with the advancing technology
Some day I see not in too distant future, there will be a call to return to the basics.
"Return to Sender!"

Please visit my Urdu blog at http://saugoreebsc.blogspot.com/ and my Hindi blog at http://wahajuana.blogspot.com/

Jum'ah Journal--Truth wins in the end

 I guess you all are witnessing a real wave of awakening among the Muslims that seems overdue anyway.  As I said before the Egyptian happening may be the beginning and it seems that way more now. But see the lives being lost for the truth as always the obstacles and difficulties always face the truth seeking people as they work together. That is the gist of message in that famous short sura about which a person of no less authority than Abdullah Bin Abbas said that if that was the only revealed Qur'an it would be sufficient for us (for guidance). I am talking about sura 'wal-'Assr' : "By (the token of) Time (through the ages), Verily Man is in loss, except such as have faith and do righteous deeds and (join together) in the mutual teaching of truth and of patience and constancy"
As you go out for teaching truth you need patience for you sure are going to be met with resistance and opposition and obstacles etc.


Please visit my Urdu blog at http://saugoreebsc.blogspot.com/ and my Hindi blog at http://wahajuana.blogspot.com/

Monday the 14th February

 I an not doing the usual type of Valentine today.
 This is a sad love I am writing. I met during this visit to Pakistan my nephew Dr. Israr Ahmad Butt along with his wife and his older sister in Narowal (Pb)
 This was a brief meeting for he was on call and I had not seen him for may be 25 years or so.
 I did not have much time but he took me to the hospital (private) where he showed me his ward, a well-equipped children's and neonatal unit he was indeed a devoted pediatrition but in difficult circumstances of his life, having moved with his family from Quetta to Panjab, recently.
 Alas this turned out to be my last meeting with him I just got the news from Pakistan that he died of a sudden heart attack. No history. Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi Rajeoon


Please visit my Urdu blog at http://saugoreebsc.blogspot.com/ and my Hindi blog at http://wahajuana.blogspot.com/

Sunday Surkhi--Shirley

  This was a 'heavy' Sunday
 When I was making my first home in NC after arriving here in 1973, it was in Fayetteville NC
 After I bought a small house I needed all things like sofa dining set chairs beddings etc. etc. everything and Shirley went round with me enjoying every minute of the shopping and I trusted her choices. I was obliged to her for her help but she thanked me that I gave her the opportunity to 'enjoy'. That is Shirley.
Rene Shirley Nathaniel  dear wife of my friend Dennis. We attended her funeral today all the family members and friends, many of whom I was meeting after so many years. That was a typical Indian Christian ceremony. Of course, as a Muslim, I chose not to attend the religious ceremony but that was a sad and touching day for us. Seeing friends with whom we spent so much of happy time together at Shirley and Dennis's place, enjoying their hospitality, music, and food. Tea, she was one great connoisseur I have met in my life who knew about the qualities and flavours of this drink.
 She enjoyed life fully. Once there was cooking (International cuisine) competition at Fort Bragg (she used to teach Urdu/Hindi to the gee-eyes) and of course her cooking got the first prize. Surprised? No I was not. I said that I would have been really surprised if Shirley had NOT gotten the first prize. That tells a lot about her perfectionistic personality. (Yes she was my patient also for her migraine.)
 That was Shirley, my very brief note about this woman of great rakh rakahao (رکھ رکھائو)
Please visit my Urdu blog at http://saugoreebsc.blogspot.com/ and my Hindi blog at http://wahajuana.blogspot.com/

Sunday Surkhi--iPS Cells

 To start with this is not 'new news' but the recognition of the Japanese scientist is certainly new
 Dr. Shimya Yamanaka got the top award of 400,000 Euros from Spain for his contribution to the science/technology in the form of the development of
 Induced Pluripotent Stemcells
 from the patient's own body thus eliminating the ethical objections of getting stem cells from human embryos etc.
That is a great advantage and we await the suitability of such cells as they are used in clinical practice.


Please visit my Urdu blog at http://saugoreebsc.blogspot.com/ and my Hindi blog at http://wahajuana.blogspot.com/

Jum'ah Journal--Democracy vs Justice

  Democracy is considered as a form of Government in which supreme power is held by the people and exercised either directly or through elected representatives. (Government OF the people BY the people FOR the people)
 It is said that Plato and Aristotle distrusted pure democracy fearing that majority rule would lead to 'mob rule'.(Have we not seen that?) As for 'human rights' and human dignity humanism renaissance enlightenment etc. are all very pretty sounding words considered to be part of democracy but there is a lot variation in interpretation of these words in different peoples of the world and we see that champions of democracy use autocracy when it suits the political purpose and all human dignity and humanism goes down the drain. Majority rule sounds good but if Hamas gets majority the democracy is thrown out of the window and majority is condemned by the same champions of democracy that propose elections and support fair elections.
I have said nothing about 'autocrats' for they are not counted even though Mubarak was 'elected' by 99% majority and yet he ruled as autocrat and Zardari was elected in Pakistan by "democratic majority" and is doing no different from Mubarak.
 In the heat of arguments Islamic teachings are thrown out as they are considered "theocracy' (Sharia law is however NOT theocracy). The emphasis in Sharia is on Justice and balance in governance. Justice is what is needed for balancing in power of the Governer and the governed. The law must see to it that there is no oppression at all levels, governmental, organizational and even individual. Call it whatever you like but if that is not provided in democracy, the human being remains at the mercy of other human being/s

 There is plenty of Gas, plenty of Electricity, and plenty of Water in Pakistan but "load-shedding" is ridiculously widespread for all these simple daily life essentials, utilities, because of the "distributing authorities' are making sure they get their share of money/power.
 I must hurry to take my bath before water supply is suspended, and must make sure to do it such time when gas was available and water was heated and then also see that you can shave while electricity is available. In many towns women folk get up at 4am to cook all the dishes for the day because there is no gas during the day it is only available during nightly hours.
   Coming back to USA was so much relief and while bad weather caused one minute suspension of electricity, I almost had a heart attack--- Not Load-Shedding here for God sake.


Please visit my Urdu blog at http://saugoreebsc.blogspot.com/ and my Hindi blog at http://wahajuana.blogspot.com/