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EDITOR'S CHOICE: Fiona Godlee Stay at home BMJ 2005; 331: 0-f [Full text]

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Internet based interactions

Anuj Sharma   (22 September 2005)

Why ‘stay at home’?

Dr. Rajesh Chauhan, Dr. Akhilesh Kumar Singh, MD; Dr. Parul Kushwah, MBBS, MISMCD.   (2 October 2005)

Internet based interactions 22 September 2005
Anuj Sharma, Consultant Microbiologist Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi 110 060, India Send response to journal: Re: Internet based interactions	The net offers the possibility of having videoconferences, meetings or CMEs, which have the potential to reduce the international air traffic. However, such meetings also have a social angle which allows you to meet your friends, colleagues, and mentors in an informal setting; and are a good break from the routine. This is the main reason that travel due such meetings shall not reduce in the near future. Nonetheless, faster bandwidth, coupled with the hassles and dangers of international travel, would in the long term reduce such travel. Competing interests: None declared
Why ‘stay at home’? 2 October 2005
Dr. Rajesh Chauhan, Consultant, Family Medicine and Communicable Diseases. 309 A.V. Colony, Sikandra, Agra – 282007. India., Dr. Akhilesh Kumar Singh, MD; Dr. Parul Kushwah, MBBS, MISMCD. Send response to journal: Re: Why ‘stay at home’?	Dear Editor, Why fear the unknown? Why fear at all? Why the necessity to search for good reasons to ‘stay at home’? [1] Most of us do have faith in destiny. Accordingly, if one is doomed to die of drowning, why fear the fire, since fire cannot affect you. “Hue-e-yey wohee jo Raam rachee raakha……”, meaning thereby, “Whatever is destined by the Lord Raam, shall happen (and in the same manner as is destined)”. There is yet another teaching by the Lord which says, “Do what you can and what you have to do, with your best efforts and leave the rest onto Him, and do not worry about the results”; [Kar munye vaadhi kaar auste, ma phale shu kadaa chunnah……….] If one were to get so worked up of the eventualities, perhaps all things good will stop from happening and we, the doctors, shall stop venturing out for mortal fear (and perhaps in order to bring down the pollution). Lest we forget, services of doctors are equally required in times of war and disaster, etc. Must not the doctors rise to the occasion and help the needy and the suffering, under any eventuality and under whatever consequences? Caution is justified [1,2]. However, whatever was to happen has already happened. It is time now to move on [3]. For the doctors, even an enemy, who comes as a patient or is brought in as one, is a patient first and all resources, skills, love and compassion would automatically be used in rendering treatment to the patient. Maybe the unreasonable minds would soon start seeing their folly and the futility of terrorism and stop the unnecessary, unprovoked, unwarranted and unwanted acts of terrorism on the peace loving communities around the world, especially on the community of healers – the doctors. So hop on that plane please. Such a desire can be quite cross- infective. For the sake of patients and the medical fraternity, as also for enhancement of medical research and improvement in patient care, please do not miss the flight, nor wish to miss one ever. With best wishes & regards. References: 1. Fiona Godlee. Stay at home. BMJ 2005; 331. 2. Sharma A. Internet based interactions. http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/eletters/331/7517/0-f#116981. 22 September 2005. 3. Rajesh Chauhan. KISS AND MOVE ON…. http://bmj.com/cgi/eletters/331/7508/DC1#111862, 9 Jul 2005 BMJ Competing interests: None declared