Fasting is a test for the healer
Neurosurgeon Dr Mohammed Memon says the holy month brings personal and professional tests, but he never forgets that patience and self-control are part of the job, Anwar Ahmad reports
ABU DHABI // Performing operations during Ramadan is a particular challenge for doctors because they have to control their emotions, thirst and hunger, knowing that even a minor lapse could be fatal for the patient.
But despite the possible pitfalls, it does not stop one Abu Dhabi surgeon from enjoying the holy month as he has done every year since he was five years of age. Dr Mohammed Memon, a neurosurgeon at the Universal Hospital of Abu Dhabi, fasted for 15 days at that age.
“But when I reached the age of six I fasted for the entire 30 days of Ramadan,” Dr Memon says. “Everybody in the family would observe fasting in a very joyful and festive manner, and my parents always encouraged us to fast from a very young age.”
But the spinal neurosurgeon admitted that it could be a challenge in his line of work.
“Performing surgeries while fasting really can affect operations – no denying that – because when a person is thirsty and hungry they may lose their temper, which may be fatal for the person lying on the table,” Dr Memon says.
“But we are trained to handle surgical situations with patience, alertness and self-control. In fact, fasting teaches us complete self-control.” He has only been in Abu Dhabi for two months but he has performed more than 25 procedures, including 12 major spinal operations.
The Pakistani doctor has per- formed seven operations while fasting. “When you fast your anger level gets a little higher but the fasting teaches us how to control our inner emotions,” Dr Memon says. “Surgery is team work. When you are in a commanding position and leading a team, your responsibility multiplies.
“Other staff who work with me also fast so during surgery, if I shout out them and they can’t bear it, it can create problems. But we control our emotions and anger all the time in the operating theatre.” Dr Memon has four daughters aged between the ages of 8 and 16. He had a fifth but she died from a hole in the heart. “I pumped her heart and put in all my effort but couldn’t save her. We as doctors are not bigger than God,” he says.
While he was studying medicine Dr Memon’s father died. As the eldest he had to support the rest of his family – four brothers and one sister – which he did by opening a small pharmacy in Hyderabad.
Whether fasting or not, Dr Memon always keeps one thing in mind when he is conducting an operation. “When we do surgeries, we keep in mind that this should be the first and last surgery for the patient, and they shouldn’t be operated on for the same problem again,” he says.