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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.
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.
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
Competing interests: No competing interests