Puja Sharma had to die even before knowing, what she is suffering from…
This story has been originated only a few months ego. Puja, a promising girl of 18, had just passed Higher Secondary with outstanding marks. She was planning to go for further studies. But, suddenly, her life had turned to lead its way in another direction. Puja suddenly became very seriously ill. Reason unknown.
The blossoming youth had soon been turned into a terrible disease –bitten figure. Unfortunately, her illness couldn’t be diagnosed by the local doctor. So, Puja was sent to Nilratan Sarkar Medical College Hospital. There she had been kept in the general bed for 21 days! Many tests were done. But alas! Nothing could be diagnosed so far! Ridiculously, she was told not to be afraid so much about her health because she was suffering from ‘gastric problem’, which could be easily treated. Puja, being a daughter of a farmer, obviously couldn’t afford to be admitted in a private hospital (Apollo, Ruby, AMRI, Columbia Asia etc.), where fair amount of money buys you the best treatment. So, she had to remain in the hospital bed of NRS, was actually counting her days. Unfortunately, ‘qualified’ doctors were unavailable even to check her properly; diagnosis remained a ‘dream’. Needless to say, Puja was not an exception in this state, where people who don’t have money to buy treatment, have to submit themselves to the mercy of the Government-run hospital doctors! This ‘mockery of treatment’ is going on for years! Nobody feel to protest against this injustice.
Puja Sharma was released after 21 days of ‘treatment’, without proper diagnosis. She remained at home for days after that, without treatment. But, when someone is suffering from a terrible disorder which even may kill him/her, treatment should be started on the first hand after proper diagnosis, which, the Government-run hospital failed to give her! Eventually, Puja’s illness had been increased day by day and she remained at home without diagnosis. But, she knew by herself that she was going to die….
One day, Puja had fainted inside the bathroom. Her stool pattern was obviously giving the alarm to be aware, but her parents failed to notice! But, after the incident, the anxious parents decided to bring her to a private hospital. So, Puja was admitted to Shishu Mangal Hospital.
Needless to say, it was too late for any hospital to do anything at all! Anything! Shishu Mangal tried their best of course, but had to give up after a while. Puja couldn’t breathe properly by then. So, she had to be put in ventilator.
There she remained for 2 days only, senseless…
The blooming youth had to accept her defeat after 2 days of ‘unconscious’ battle. Puja had to submit herself to death, even before knowing, why she had to die. May she rest in peace…
Puja’s untimely demise has raised several questions before us. If this is the scenario, where even a doctor is unavailable to attend the patient, then, this is the high time to think! Is this system needed to be changed? Or, should it be allowed to remain as it is? What kind of system is this, where the fundamental right of a human being to be treated properly is ‘intentionally’ violated? If a disease even cannot be diagnosed in time and the patient has to keep his/her patience only to wait for the right treatment to come, then why are those doctors for?
But, we should not ignore the first and foremost question. Who is responsible for this untimely death, the system or our consciousness? When will we ever learn?
Published on VNN Bangla (October, 2011)
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