‘Quarantine has turned into a fear factor’

MEERUT : A telephonic conversation recently held between two doctors exposed helplessness and fear of doctors treating patients of different ailments other than Covid-19.

The doctors discussed how a patient approached a doctor with problem in chest and breathing. He was admitted in the hospital and his sample was sent for Covid-19 test. When his condition deteriorated the doctor approached a diagnostic centre and surgeon for his ultrasound and internal examination but they refused to entertain the patient without knowing his Covid-19 report. Meanwhile, the patient was shifted to ICU and his covid report came out negative three days after his infection spread and he succumbed.

A senior doctor on the condition of anonymity said, “He could have been saved. He died because of the prevailing fear of quarantine and undue burden of frequently changing guidelines for qualified doctors for providing treatment.”

There are at least seven cases in which doctors and hospital health staff were quarantined for 14 days after the patients they treated were tested positive for Covid-19.

Dr Tanuraj Sirohi, former president of IMA Meerut branch said, “A clear policy for quarantine was never developed. Therefore, it has turned into the biggest challenge and fear factor for private practitioners strained from running their OPDs and hospitals.”

The state government, in its changed guidelines, has now given relaxation to the doctors, from quarantine, who would be wearing proper PPE kit even during exposure to a Covid-19 patient.