THE PHOENIX WILL RISE

Dr Dolittle has really raised a serious topic.

Reminds me a conference hall in Kolkata 2 years back, where some young ER physicians are arguing with a senior specialist on why the super specialist (Actually sub specialist) cannot manage individual emergencies in ER. The discussion was gaining heat and then came a loud voice from a senior EM authority “ Ladies and Gentlemen, Allow me to speak. Sir, You are absolutely right. What they are telling is wrong. US and UK are wrong so do Australia. Sir you are correct. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!”. The session and discussion ended with complete silence because everybody understood the inner message encrypted in this small but obvious satire. The Venue for this was ICEM 2009 in Kolkata and the authority was Prof Suresh David.

Two years down the line between November 17th -19th EM community will be educated by NON EM specialties (NO OFFENCE TO THEM) on how to manage the patients in emergency department.

In 2004 Freeman said the following on Emergency Medicine

"Emergency Medicine involves the immediate care of urgent and life-threatening conditions found in the critically ill and injured. These physicians are really specialists in breadth - their broad-based training encompasses acute problems that span several clinical disciplines. No other specialty can match the astounding variety of patients found within the emergency room. Emergency physicians see, hear, and smell things that most doctors will not."
(Freeman. The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty. Pp 181. McGraw-Hill 2004)

I think this multi specialty approach in EMCON 2011 will give us the following

1. A superb seven star environment with lots of delicious Kolkata Food.
2. A gorgeous banquet with GOOD KOLKATA MUSIC.
3. An absolute top line scientific discussions may be with little or no relevance to Emergency Medicine

And many more………………

I remember the PANDALS of EMCON 2009 in Guwahati where one speaker could hear what other was speaking about but it was our very own. That is what Emergency Medicine in India can afford today.

I sincerely hope that the spirit of Emergency Medicine will not die and even if it has the phoenix will rise.

That is our challenge for tomorrow………………….