The patient was diagnosed with mild mitral stenosis (narrowing of the heart’s mitral valve). He also had a mass on his neck area, which was found to be tuberculous. NG felt that the combination of the two was causing the blood in the sputum, and a few transfusions along with tubercular treatment would address it. He was definitely wary of bringing the guy to the operating table.
When the patient returned with the same problem, I once again reiterated my suggestion of doing a valvotomy, a procedure to open up the valve and ease the blood flow. This once again fell on deaf ears and the patient was admitted for repeat transfusions, which sometimes also help in opening up minor blockages. This didn’t work.
The next day, I went and stood outside NG’s house early in the morning. This was a somewhat audacious act; as junior doctors we didn’t have the liberty of paying ‘house visits’ to the Head. After repeated pleas that I needed to meet him for something urgent, his household presented me to him. I again went over my rationale for taking a more radical approach a couple of times, and he finally agreed, though his reluctance was obvious. Clearly, I’d stuck my neck out and this could spell bad tidings if things didn’t go well.
The procedure, done in the manner of closed heart surgeries of those days, was successful. The patient recovered well, and the problem vanished.
From being the stubborn arguer, I became a role model who was cited thereafter for his concern for patients, astute diagnosis and the ability to stand up for his convictions!
As for the band waalah, he was beside himself with gratitude… we’d saved his life and his ability to perform and earn. He fell at my feet and kept asking what he could do. I was mortified and kept mumbling, ‘nothing, nothing, this is my work.’ He then drew himself up, and putting his hand on his heart, promised aloud that he would perform at my wedding, singing the best songs ever!!
Was that to happen?

As told to Priya Sarkar(wife)