Testing times

Dr. Bidyut Banerjee

".....And remember to have food at the proper time and do take adequate rest. Okay?"

"Yes Maa... I'll do that. You keep saying this to me every day."

"You'll understand when you become a parent yourself"

"Okay mom... Not again!... Please."

"Okay, Okay... Fine... You said your duties are still very hectic, when do you study then?"

"I'm trying to squeeze it in my schedule..."

"When are your exams?"

"Anytime between July to August"

"And preparatory leaves?"

"The HOD believes that the outcome is going to be no different because of what I study now. He assured me that because I have been preparing for this exam for the last 3 years, I will be able to manage it along with my duties. Also complimented me for the first time that I am a bright student." Chuckles... "And when I tried to explain that I'll need a structured time table for atleast 3 weeks till the exams, he cut me short saying ' Oh.. as if we have not given exams in our life.... We will talk about it later. First go and check on that patient on 3rd floor.’

"But Betaa... Isn't there anyone you could approach with this problem? Can you not complain to your board or something...?"

"That's not how it works, Maa... Okay bye ... I have got to study now.... You and Papa take care okay... Bye!"

With the board announcing practical exam dates for a few specialties, several Family Medicine residents who are on COVID duty, have now a fresh set of nightmares to deal with.

"Indeed, these are testing times..." laughed one of the final year resident. "Remain POSITIVE for your Practical test and NEGATIVE for the RT PCR test..." joked the other.

I reached the 3rd floor and found my fellow resident, a little upset.

"I'm fine" she said, wiping her teary eyes, catching her breath between the sobs, trying to fake a smile. "It's just hurtful to hear what she said and how she said it”, she explained, clearing her throat. "When I told her that regular Non-COVID duties immediately after 2 weeks of COVID duty without any rest in between is just too hectic. We are doing household chores, cooking, studying, and not to forget the thesis completion. All this alongside such hectic duties... We may fall ill at this rate."

To this all that she had to say was --- "Oh! This is nothing... back in our times we used to enter the hospital early in the morning and didn't even realize when it was past dinner time. Anyways, you are a female... Do not worry about falling sick. Stats clearly show females have less chances of getting COVID infection."

The insensitivity of few to comply with the arm twisting of the ones sitting on top, frequently lands lacerating blows on the residents' enthusiasm. Exhibiting caution in the spoken word is paramount for an already anxiogenic workspace. Yet it is frequently forgotten. To quote The Supreme Court of India on a different context "In war, you don't make soldiers unhappy".

Despite repeatedly conveying our difficult situation, the response we got was 'Dear Trainee, these are tough times for all of us. We wish the best for you. We are extremely hopeful that even the examiners are going to empathize with you. They are not going to fail people this time....' " This is heartening to say the least.

Training of medical professionals has never been restricted to merely a test of knowledge. It has been a test of tenacity, a test of patience, a test of character. It is a test of what you are truly made of.

With cities moving in and out of lockdown and candidates moving in and out of mental blocks while their cerebral cortex moves in and out of detrimental levels of carbon dioxide retained due to the masks, the final practical examinations of DNB family medicine is going to be yet another challenge towards getting used to the 'New Abnormal' with the re-introduction of OSCEs.

But..

TOGETHER WE WILL SEE THIS THROUGH!