Rajat Subhra Chatterjee
0012
As I look back, several names and images of Doctors come alive in my mind. Numbers may not be limitless, yet quite a few of them not only cured me and my family members and friends but most of them cared also so well that they have remained imbedded in my mind for ever. By naming those few, I don’t wish to belittle others as in general, I personally am grateful to the entire health care fraternity including doctors, sisters, paramedics etc whoever have lent their support for helpless people in distress. Their forte was to first assure the patient as if nothing big had happened. I have had a younghood friend doctor, who is a Gynecologist with a great clinical eye, yet is a huge friend, doctor and well wisher of my family spanning a large part of our lives. If I have two or three friends, he is one of them.
Devi Prasad Shetty, MS, FRCS, a Cardiothoracic surgeon was recommended to me by Late Dr. Zarin Dadina during my young sister-in-law’s illness. That is early ‘90s and my Sis-In-Law was diagnosed to be a patient of acute pulmonary hypertension, which led her into acute heart disorder. This was from her birth – not genetically. Ultimately during mid ‘90s, Dr. Shetty decided to have a By-pass surgery on her. 1995. She was made ready for the OT and Dr. Shetty was all set with his team at B M Birla. As customary, Dr. Shetty decided to have an Angiogram before the actual surgery. There, he stumbled. By seeing the graph, Dr. Shetty found her extremely vulnerable for the surgery and felt that she would, for sure, collapse in the OT. Dr. Shetty came out and with a wry smile, looked at us and declared that surgery was not necessary. We naturally were elated and two amongst us followed Dr. Shetty in his private room at his signal. As we entered, we found Dr. Shetty was kneel down and was in prayers. After his prayers were done, he took his chair and in a choked voice with moist eyes, he disclosed the fact that She was not in a position for surgery. She could succumb. He went on to declare that let her not be disturbed with surgery but thought to keep her alive with medicine. He ultimately announced that She would live another five years then its up God. My Sis-In-Law passed away in 2000, exactly after five years as was predicted by Doc.
That tragedy of our family, notwithstanding, we found in Dr. Shetty, a human being first as he was as sad as we were. Subsequently, before 2000, whenever, I met him by chance anywhere, he enquired about my Sis-In-law. When she passed away, I personally went to him to inform and found him in tears. To a doctor who treats thousands of patients, it was difficult to single out a particular patient, yet Dr. Shetty was different.
Few years later I had an occasion to meet him at R N Tagore Hospital in Kolkata, where one of my friends was having By pass under Dr. Kunal Sarkar. One afternoon, I was waiting downstairs since morning like many other relatives. But to my horror, there was no communication from the Medical staff or Doctor or para medicos to any of the relatives who had been anxiously waiting for the good news of their patient relatives. It broke my patience as I decided to meet Dr. Shetty. But it was not that easy as I was not allowed to go up. I had to approach the PR desk and had to cajole with them and ultimately had to request them to inform Dr. Shetty with my name. Magic worked. In no time my name was announced and I was in front of Dr. Shetty in the 4th Floor, face to face. He was smiling and asked for any assistance if he could provide. Doc was intrigued. I shared with him the agony of the relatives waiting down below. Dr. Shetty understood and assured me that from next day, there would be periodic announcement regarding each patient under surgery stating the status. That was a big relief and more importantly, it was a huge response from a doctor who understood the anxiety of a relative. That was Dr. Debi Shetty.
The famous singer Manna De was in Bangalore during his last part of life. Around 2013, Manna De became critically ill and he contacted Dr. Shetty who founded Narayana Health in Bangalore. He immediately advised him to get himself admitted in his hospital. Narayana Centre sent ambulance and when Manna De arrived at the hospital, he was surprised to see cores of paramedics and other staff of the hospital were all lined up with each carrying a small bouquet of flowers. At the end of the row, Dr. Debi Shetty himself was standing to receive Manna De which not only surprised him but made him spellbound. After few days of vigorous treatment, Manna De was feeling much better and asked Dr. Shetty to get him released. Dr. Shetty at once agreed and arranged for his release.
When time came for Manna De to leave the hospital he asked and received the Bill for his treatment. He found the figure was zero. Manna De called for Dr. Shetty who was asked why no amount was charged ? Dr. Shetty replied, -“ we have grown listening to your songs. You have been our role model. You have entertained us for so many years. How can we charge for your treatment. It was our privilege to have been able to treat you.”
Debi Shetty has been a messenger from the cosmic world sent to do good to people
Featured Image : Courtesy : narayanahealth.org