Walk with the Weary: Life-Changing Lessons in Healthcare

Book Name : Walk with the Weary: Life-Changing Lessons in Healthcare Authors : Dr M. R. Rajagopal Publisher : Rupa Publications India Number of Pages : 256 Year of Publication : 2022 ISBN-10 : 9393852448 ISBN-13 : 978-9393852441 It was my friend Dr Ismail who drew my attention to Dr M. R. Rajagopal’s [MRR], as we fondly remember him from our Calicut days, book WALK WITH THE WEARY. As I read the book, I felt that every medical student should read this book now more than ever. Natural science has made huge progress in the understanding of cell biology and physiology. This has resulted in advances in medical care, with better curative and palliative options for many illnesses. All this advancement in science is proper in its place. But, MRR draws attention to a new science of man. Of relating to him in an act of Love, Empathy and Compassion. Physicians are a part of the society that we live in and suffer the same problems like everybody else, but they have to think and act differently due to the nature of their work. Of relating to patients. MRR draws attention to the art of medicine. The medical profession is an anachronism with regard to its nature of work. It used to be alluded to as healthcare service. The doctor meets the patient and takes responsibility for him or her. The doctor is like an artisan. He/she does his/her work out of a keen interest; incidentally, he/she may also earn a good livelihood. It is to this aspect that attention is drawn to. Today, health care is popularly known as healthcare industry. Unfortunately, as MRR points out in the chapter Engage or Assist the Harm, we cannot apply industrial methods in medicine. The appalling costs of medical expenditure should make us think and understand our fellow being. It is only through this knowledge will we be able to alleviate suffering. In the chapter The Generous Listener, the book brings to light the importance of listening. The art of listening helps the physician to feel the experience of the other as if it is his own. This empathy to understand, of reaching out, and overcoming the fear of losing oneself is very effectively brought out in this book by narrating life experiences both personal and those of patients. In the generous listener Mr Warrier says, your words gave me solace and we see MRR remarking it was not my words but my listening to him that gave him solace. In many falls between the cracks, MRR makes a statement on how a band or a strike called for affects the care of poor patients, especially those who depend on government-run hospitals and the home visits done by the palliative care staff. Fortunately, these calls for a strike or hartal affecting public life have received the attention of the judiciary and their frequency has come down significantly. In the chapter Children Need Answers, Dr Rajagopal introduces us to the difficult and one of the most painful tasks that a physician has to deal with. Parents who have to see their children go through a chronic disability or terminal illness. He reminds us that children need to be provided with information. His conversation with Abdul, the 8-year-old, who has questions about his mortality, reminds us that we should come to terms with addressing our own impermanence in this world. The recurrent theme in many a chapter is about being Mortal. At a time when the Tech billionaires of the developed world are obsessed with anti-ageing research and funding huge projects, MRR writes about the here and now. Of the serious healthcare inequalities that exist in the world and more importantly our role as physicians to recognise our impermanence so that we can ease the fear of our fellow beings when they have a terminal illness. The self-effacing nature, modesty, touch of humour and honesty in a person who became the change that he wanted to see are qualities that we should try hard to embody. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.