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Down the Memory Lane

Conciliation is the Name of the Game

by Dr Habibuz Zaman
SOMETIME in June or July 1972. 1 received a phone call from the Health gecretagy- of Bangs laddsh W arijedkne whether f had bev*-Jol|pwlng\ , the t newspaper reports tn relation to the bad blood, which had been growing between the hospital doctors tn the government medical Institutions and the journalist community in Bangladesh. In fact, I had not quite taken notice of this. He had mentioned that following an Incident at the Chittagong Medical College Hospital between a journalist, who was an Indoor hospital patient, and the hospital staff, a great deal of misunderstanding had been created At first a news item and then editorial comments had appeared in a Chittagong vernacular daily. This sms extremely damaging to the reputation of doctors. The matter had been going on for a couple of weeks. In the meantime. newspapers in Dhaka bad also made editorial comments. Initially these had ap beared in vernacular dallies later editorial comments had also been made in English dailies tn Dhaka. One of the editorials had suggested that doctors deserved to be "horse-whtpped"!
The Health Secretary had asked me to go to Chittagong and to see If the matter could be sorted out amicably. I had responded Initially by pointing out that the trouble had started within the Chittagong Medical College Hospital and was related tn a patient. I had asked the Health Secretary why Director of Medical Education should be Involved In resolving the matter. The Health Secretary had agreed that the Director, Curative, should have been normally responsible for a matter related to the hospital. But he was on leave. He further Informed me that the Health Minister. Mr Abdul Malek Ukll, had Instructed that the matter must not be allowed to deteriorate any further The Health Serre tary therefore suggested that I proceed to Chittagong imme-diately
I could see that the doctors were quite set In thetr view that there had been undue interference by a journalist-patient. and a small Incident had been blown out of all proportion by newspaper reports. I mentioned to the assembled group that having heard the version of the doctors. It would now be my duty to make en qulrtes directly from the pa tie nt apd also the nursing staff of the ward, where the Incident had occurred.
Accordingly. I separately met the ward nurses and the journalist patient I do not re-call the name of the journalist, which to Just as well We will call him by a fkUttous name. Mr Alam, who had a case of
chronic gastric ulcer. He appeared thin and perhaps somewhat under-weight for his age and height. He was a presentable person of fair complexion. He was soft-spoken and gave his version of the story without mincing words.
Mr Alam had been receiving medical treatment for his gas trie ulcer for a couple of weeks as an indoor patient. Occasionally, he had given himself the freedom of using the telephone tn the ward, which was placed on the working table of the ward nurses. After spend Ing several days In the ward, he had felt free to use the telephone without seeking permlsaion. On one such occasion, the duty nurse had taken exception when Mr Alam had used the phone for a prolonged period The Journalist had been taken by surprise at this unexpected challenge from a nurse. He had therefore responded in not a friendly manner Thus a verbal alterea tlon had begun. This had grad ually Increased In Intensity over the next few days nnd qutte a bit of bad blood had been made between the hospl tai staff and the Journalist. In the verbal battle the doctors had naturally taken the sides with the nurses. As a result, our journalist friend had been refused further use of the phone. Mr Alam was not only offended, but also had started feeling somewhat Insecure. He had written a letter to his wife, and asked one of the cleaners to deliver ft to hts residence.
However, matters had come to such a pass that the letter had been Intercepted
I believe ft was at this point that the Journalist had men Honed about the incident to his professional colleagues, who had come to visit him. It hvi seemed rather strange to me that Mr Alam had not felt free to leave the hospital by himself with the help of hts colleagues, who had been reporting the Incident and mak Ing such unfavourable com ments tn the newspapers.
In any case, the journalist had left a favourable Impression on me. He was acceptable to me as a gentleman He did not seem to be one. who was out to create trouble Certainly I did not find him to be a proud and haughty character. He had talked to me quite normally without undue heat. I got determined to bring to an
end this unfortunate matter tn the most expeditious manner, acceptable to the doctors, hospital staff and the journalists
In the course of the day, I had an occasion to address the entire teaching staff and many of the hospital doctors. Assemble In two to three rows around the large horse-shoe shaped table in the rather spacious conference hall of the Chittagong Medical College, the doctors numbered over 150. After making a few pleasant remarks. I had bluntly told my colleagues that a hospital is not a prison and no patient Is a prisoner. Patients were free to leave the hospital premises at their own will. If doctors felt that it Involved a risk for a patient. they could Insist that the patient signed a declaration to the effect that he or she was leaving the hospital against medical advice and at his or her own risk (DORB). Beyond taking this one caution. It was unnecessary for doctors to feel responsible, obliged or dutybound to exert further pressure on any patient to remain confined to the hospital, against one's will.
At the end of the meeting, I had Informally talked to a number of the sen lor moat colleagues and detected a dlsln cllnatlon on their part to bend, although they all wished a speedy resolution of this unfortunate Impasse I reckoned there was little chance of sue cess In efforts to get the doc tors, the patient and a group of journalists together to settle the matter I started thinking of how else the same object would be attained. In this, I am happy to recall, I had felt free to consult with and take the help of my classmate and a good friend, who had been practising In Chittagong for over 20 years I knew that he was highly respected both In the community and also amongst the doctors. I requested him to arrange a meeting for me with Mr Nurul Islam, the Editor of the "People’s Dally", the then lead Ing English language newspa per of Chittagong. This was arranged for about 1 1.00 pm that evening.
Prof Zoha. the Principal of the Medical College had very kindly thrown a dinner party at his official residence which was attended by quite a large number of doctors. I begged leave of my host around 10.30
In the evening and went straight to meet Mr Nurul Is lam I had a brief but very fruitful meeting. J. toM him that I had^ doubt tl»t a sen ous breach bf trust and good conduct had been commuted in intercepting a message from a patient to his next of kin. I begged an unqualified apology for this. 1 requested him to use his good offices and to bring to an end this sad episode and to restrain hts colleagues from writing any further against the medical profession and the hospital staff.
Mr Nurul Islam was kind enough to respond most favourably. He assured me that he would do everything in his power to bring to an end this unfortunate state of affairs. He had suggested that perhaps It would help matters if a short and appropriate press note cold be Issued on behalf of the Ministry of Health. I had re quested Mr Islam to extend his helping hand and his good offices, even If such a press note could not be issued. I assured him that 1 would certainly convey his wishes to the Minister for Health.
On return to Dhaka next morning the matter was duly reported to the Health Secretary and also to the Hegjth Minister Mr Malek Ukll had kindly thanked me for my efforts.
However, he had remained silent over issuing a press note. In return. I have appreciated his wisdom. He might have felt that enough was enough; gentle behaviour on the part of all concerned could have averted this unfortunate episode, which had called for his intervention. It did not deserve any further publicity and documentation by the government.
Nevertheless, I am happy to say that the promise, made by Mr Nurul Islam, was honoured by hts Journalist colleagues.
The newspapers did not carry any further adverse comments about the Chittagong event within my knowledge. Out of sheer determination to create goodwill. J had done what I thought was necessary. It was fortunate that my approach for reconciliation had worked.
The full credit for this happy ending goes to Mr Nurul Islam. He was able to cany his pro fesslonal colleagues with him. Indeed, he was sincere in keeping hts words I Mr Nurul Islam, the Editor of “The Peoples Dally" of Chittagong, passed away several years ago May his sou) rest In peace I