Living Upto The Hippocratic Oath In Corona Crisis

As the nation faces an unprecedented and indiscriminate rampage of Covid-19, the medical fraternity has risen to tackle the virus working in tandem with the authorities, like men in olive fatigue. In the Pink City of Jaipur, Dr C.P. Srivastava, Director & HOD - Cardiac Surgery at Narayana Multi-speciality Hospital, a highly respected name among the leading cardiac surgeons of North India, in a conversation with India Today, shares his views about care of cardiac patients in the midst of the lockdown.

- Dr. C.P. Srivastava

C DR. C.P. SRIVASTAVA Director & HOD - Cardiac Surgery at Narayana Multi-speciality Hospital, Jaipur

WHEN DO YOU ENVISAGE THE CORONA PANDEMIC TAPERING PARTICULARLY IN CONTEXT TO INDIA?

We are fighting an unknown and invisible enemy which attacks human life indiscriminately. As there is no definitive treatment available against coronavirus, the battle seems to be long drawn. It may go on over months and probably years as research to find an effective medical antidote requiring many trials, tests etc. Thanks to the strict clamping of lockdown by our Hon’ble Prime Minister, we could avert a possible catastrophe in terms of infection as well as mortality rates. Considering India’s humongous population of 130 crores, we are much better off than many advanced countries with lesser population and best medical services, where the death rates are shockingly high. The tendency of any epidemic is first to peak then gradually come to a plateau and then start declining. In the last 2-3 days we have witnessed a plateau in infection and mortality rates which is an encouraging sign. We can only pray, hope and put in our best efforts to stop the contagion.

WHO ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE TO CORONA VIRUS?