Teary smile !!!

That day I was at my chamber when one child of around 4 years was brought to me by his parents. The child was suffering from some ocular infections. To be true, it was an easy case to manage medically. I was writing the prescription when the unexpected happened. The child came to me and kissed the back of my hand. I was pleasantly surprised by his behaviour. In fact it was heart warming to witness the expression of love of his little heart. On the contrary, the mother became cautious. She tried to pull the child away asking him not to disturb me, but the child tightly clasped one of my finger.

I smiled and said,

"Don't worry Madam, it's not everytime that I get lucky to be liked by my kid patient making my job easier.. :-) :-)"

The mother smiled at me. I expanded my arms towards the child and he promptly jumped onto my lap and made himself comfortable by hugging me and by placing his head on my shoulder.

You know, this is amongst some of the very few incidents which make us feel strangely peaceful at the moment and which we just expect to continue for some more time..

But I had other patients waiting and I had to continue my work. I handed over the child to the mother.. She was smiling, but there was tears in her eyes.

"What happened Mam ?"

She replied,

"Nothing sir.. You are one of those few persons to understand his emotions !!!"

Her reply somehow penetrated the core of my heart...

Oh, I didn't mention one point..The child is mentally retarded.. And the mother is absolutely right in her words.

When we come across a cute little child, most of us would like to play/chat with him or her what if even for a moment... This is the human nature.. But most of us have reservations towards a mentally challenged child... This is the truth which we quite often try to deny or ignore. But can a truth be suppressed for long? No.. And the mother's expression was like a proof to what I am saying..

She is a mother, thus she would never feel or complain, but practically speaking, she has already suffered a lot in raising her kid... She will be ready to do anything for her child, but our positive attitude may help her in crossing all the obstacles...

In this post I am not going to discuss anything regarding our responsibilities or our duties towards these children or their parents.. It would be too long to cover in a single update. All I want to say is that I lifted the child to soothe my heart, but by my act I could bring some happiness to a mother's heart.. And that smile with her wet eyes... I am going to remember for quite a long time !!!!

I have witnessed my mother smiling with tears when I cleared my MBBS entrance examination. These are lots of many more examples. Everyone of you might relate to this I suppose..

Somebody said, what is that smile when there is no tears in the eyes !!! But isn't it true that sometimes these smiles become too heavy to bear ??

ASSAM MEDICARE SERVICE PERSONS AND MEDICARE SERVICE INSTITUTIONS (PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE AND DAMAGE TO PROPERTY) ACT, 2011*

Uploading the full text of the law already in force in Assam: I suppose its high time that all my friends, medicos or non medicos, make themselves familiar with this law... So here it is... Go through the text at least once...

ASSAM MEDICARE SERVICE PERSONS AND MEDICARE SERVICE INSTITUTIONS (PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE AND  DAMAGE TO PROPERTY) ACT, 2011*
(Assam Act No. III of 2013)

No. LGL.92/2011/18.- The following Act of the Assam Legislative Assembly which received the assent of the President is hereby published for general informtion.
An  Act to prohibit violence against Medicare Service Persons and damage to Property of Medicare Service Institutions in the State of Assam and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.

Preamble:
Whereas it is expedient to prohibit violence against Medicare Service Persons and damage to Property of Medicare Service Institutions in the State of Assam and matters connected therewith or incidental thereto;
It is hereby enacted in the Sixty-second Year of the Republic of India as follows:-

1. Short title, extent and commencement:
    (1)    The Act may be called the Assam Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2011.
    (2)    It extends to the whole of the State of Assam.
    (3)    It shall come into force at once.

2. Definitions:
In the Act, unless the context otherwise requires.-
    (a)         "Medicare Service" means the act of providing medical treatment and care including antenatal and postnatal care in connection with child birth or anything connected therewith, or nursing care in any form to, persons suffering from any sickness, injury or infirmities whether of body or mind;
    (b)        "Medicare Service Institutions" means a medical college, or a hospital by whatever name called or such other institution providing Medicare Service to the people, which is established and managed by or under the control of the State Government or Central Government or any local authority or any private person or persons, and includes a maternity home or convalescent home;
    (c)         "Medicare Service Persons" in relation to Medicare Service Institution shall include,-
          (i)   Registered Medical Practitioners, working in Medicare Institutions (including those having provisional Registration);
          (ii)   Registered nurses;
          (iii)         Medical students;
          (iv)         Nursing students;
          (v)         Any Para-medical or any other worker employed and working in Medicare Service Institutions;
    (d)    "Property of Medicare Service Institution" means the building and equipments of the Medicare Service Institution. It also includes personal vehicles and other equipments etc. brought to the premises or to the vicinity of the premises by the Medicare Service Person in connection with his/her duties;
    (e)         "Violence" means activity of causing any harm, injury or endangering the life or intimidation, obstruction or hindrance to any Medicare Service Person in discharge of duty in a Medicare Service Institution or damage to property of the Medicare Service Institution.

3. Offences against Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions:
Following acts by any members of the public shall be an offence for the purposes of this Act:-
    (a)         Violence against any Medicare Service Person;
    (b)    Damage to any property of the Medicare Service Institution or to any Medicare Service Person

4. Penalty:
Whoever commits any offence as defined in Section 3 shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees. 

5. Offence to be Cognizable and non-bailable:
Any offence punishable under Section 3, shall be cognizable and non-bailable.

6. Recovery of loss for the damage caused to the property:
    (1)    In addition to the punishment provided in Section 3, the Court shall, when passing judgment, order the accused person to pay, by way of compensation, such amount as may be specified in the order for the damage or loss caused to the Property of the Medicare Service Institutions:
            Provided that in case of damage or loss caused to any Property of Medicare Service Institution, the quantum of compensation shall not be less than the amount of purchase price of such property.
   (2)    Where the order of compensation made under sub-section (1) is not paid, the same shall be recovered under the provisions of the Bengal Public Demands Recovery Act, 1913 from the accused person as if it were an arrear of land revenue.
                                                                                            (Bengal Act 3 of 1913 )

7.  Act not in derogation of any other law:
The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to and not in derogation of the provisions of any other law, for the time being in force.