Dr Harjot Kaur, 30

Junior resident at Government Medical College and Hospital, Amritsar

AMRITSAR: In September 2020, on the first day of her two-year postgraduation diploma in anesthesiology, Dr Harjot Kaur, 30, was assigned duty at the Covid-19 isolation wards of Government Medical College and Hospital, Amritsar. Soon after, she contracted the virus and was in home isolation for a fortnight.

“After completing my isolation, I rejoined my duties,” she says. Fearless and determined, this junior resident doctor has since been taking care of critically ill patients on ventilators, trying to cheer them up, day after day.

However, in March, her parents and sister tested positive back home in Samana, Patiala. “I was feeling helpless. I had two choices — go back home to look after my parents who had moderate symptoms or continue to treat critical patients. I decided to go for the latter and my family supported my decision,” she says.

Dr Harjot shares a heartbreaking experience about a patient’s son losing the battle against the virus, mentally, even before losing his loved one. “The son told me: ‘If you think my father won’t survive, please tell me, as I have to make arrangements for his last rituals’. What can be more disheartening than thinking about last rites while the patient is still alive?” she says.

However, there are positive experiences too, as when an old woman patient remarked that the young doctor’s positive attitude and smile is helping her fight this battle.