No place for emotions in medicine, says doctor

A qualified doctor has said that while taking a medical decision, doctors cannot allow emotions to cloud their judgement.

"When you're taking charge of somebody's life, when you have to make a very difficult decision for somebody, you've studied, you know the theory, you know what you have to do," says Dr. Apollina Sharma, who spent the last year completing her medical internship.

Centre: Dr. Apollina Sharma. Reproduced with permission

"When you're in that particular position, you know what you have to do and if you're going to get emotional, you're going to waver [over] your decision," she explains. "If you're taking that responsibility, you have to be practical about it."

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"It's not that a doctor doesn't feel when something happens, of course you feel, but at that particular moment you have to be strong and you have to make that practical decision. That's what's the important part, that you make the correct decision at the correct time."

"You can't get emotional, you can't follow whatever your head is thinking emotionally because you'll never be able to make a correct decision that quickly and the patient could deteriorate and you don't want that," she finishes.

Old people just need company, says doctor

A medical professional has said that old people who suffer from ailments need company to help keep their spirits up because of their advancing years and poor health.

"I usually find older patients to be depressed with their lives," says Dr. Apollina Sharma, who spent time with them while she was working at the Wenlock Government Hospital in Mangalore, India, during her medical internship.

Dr Apollina Sharma (centre). Reproduced with permission

"I used to get a lot of patients that used to come into psychiatry and even if they come into medicine, they're usually let down," she explains.

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"They're not happy psychologically because they have these chronic disease conditions that don't seem to be getting any better or because they just don't have anyone to talk to. That way, it is really hard [for them]."

"I remember spending time with this one particular patient that I had because I wanted to know exactly what was the problem, why was she reluctant to take her medicines, why did she have such a negative outlook on life," she recalls.

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Apollina says that it is the company of others that old people need the most.

"Instead of prescribing medications, old people, usually, you just need to speak with them," she says. "So I took time out and I spoke to her. I got to know a little bit about her problems and they just want someone to talk to.

"At that age, they need care and they need attention because their health is deteriorating. They're not as fit and fine as young-age people, so naturally they need someone."

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