Trailblazing anaesthetist who stood above the rest
“There are men and classes of men who stand above the common herd: the soldier, the sailor and the shepherd not infrequently, the artist rarely, rarely still the clergyman; the physician almost as a rule. He is the flower of civilisation……” (Robert Louis Stevenson 19th Century Scottish Author)
Dr. Bertram S. Perera was indeed one who stood above the common herd, and even head and shoulders above most physicians. I say this not only because of his physical appearance, being fair, tall, with a mane of thick hair, twinkling eyes and a ready smile, but also because of his vibrant personality and his unparalleled professional skills. Of his many outstanding qualities, the most significant was his care and concern for all those who crossed his path, whether they were patients, colleagues or aspiring young doctors.
I clearly remember the first time I met him in May 1967, outside the operating theatre in the De Soysa Maternity Hospital, where I was hovering timidly, waiting to speak to Dr. Ariyaman Mendis, the consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist . I had just graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, Colombo, and having done well in obstetrics, I had decided to do my first intern appointment with Dr. Mendis. Dr. B.S. Perera saw me and said: “Girl, you look worried, what is your problem? Can I help you?”
I replied that I was keen to do my intern appointment under Dr. Mendis but had been warned by seniors that Dr. Mendis did not tolerate women doctors! Dr. Perera reassured me and advised me to go ahead and apply for the post as long as I was ready to work hard.
By the end of my internship, I had changed my mind from following a career in obstetrics, and had chosen anaesthesia as my specialty. I must state that this decision was greatly influenced by my weekly encounters with Dr. Perera during the routine operating lists. I opted to train in anaesthesia under Dr. Perera in 1968. He was my mentor, guide and friend who guided my first faltering steps in anaesthesia. He had the ability to teach the many manual skills in anaesthesia with much ease, thereby helping me build up confidence in myself. In an era when monitoring facilities were not available, he taught me to be a vigilant anaesthetist, the best monitor of all. He also taught me to develop a sixth sense and anticipate problems, which is essential to being a good doctor.
Dr. Perera had his own unique style of teaching. I remember him teaching me to perform a lumbar puncture to do a spinal block. He remarked that once you had chosen the space, you should, “go above the lower spine, but not below the upper spine”. This I found to be a useful tip which I have passed on to my trainees over the past 30 years.
Dr. Perera made the theatre come alive with his jokes and infectious laughter. The minor staff adored him and ran to do his slightest bidding. They were flattered to be given nick names like “Yakshaya” and “Yodaya”.
Dr. Perera loved to perform surgery, and some days he would walk into the theatre and declare that he was the surgeon for the day. So I would perform a spinal block under his vigilant eye, and he would proceed to do a vaginal hysterectomy and repair with a finesse that was second to none. He was popularly known as the “Operating Anaesthetist”. Dr. A.M. Mendis and Dr. Henry Nanayakkara (consultant obstetricians and gynaecologists) humoured him, being well aware of his surgical skills and knowing that their patients were in safe hands.
Dr. Perera’s talents and interests were not confined to his profession. He had a melodious singing voice which was a treat to listen to, joining us when we went carol singing or attending a party at his residence. He was a graceful and elegant ballroom dancer, and breeding Boxer dogs was his passion.
Dr. Perera retired from the Public Sector as consultant anaesthetist to the Colombo Group of Hospitals in 1972. He proceeded to Hong Kong where he worked at the United Christian Hospital for a short period after which he moved to Tasmania, Australia, where he worked as a consultant for many years. He returned to Sri Lanka in 1994. Realising that there was a severe shortage of anaesthetists in the army at a time when our country was at war, he worked in the Army Hospital on a sessional basis from 1997 to 2000 when he was in his eighties. He donated his remuneration to the National Defence Fund. He was known to be the oldest practising anaesthetist in the region.
When I was inducted President of the College of Anaesthesiologists of Sri Lanka in 1996, Dr. Perera was delighted. He told me that he wanted to do something special for the college during my presidency. He kept his word and made a generous donation to the college.
The college thought it fit to recognise the invaluable services rendered by Dr. Perera, and renamed the ‘College of Anaesthesiologists Oration’ as ‘the Dr. B.S. Perera Oration’. The first oration was delivered by Dr. Chandra Rodrigo in 1999 in conjunction with the Annual Scientific Sessions of the College. At this inaugural oration, we were treated to a slide show illustrating Dr. Perera’s many and varied talents and achievements. Of them, the most memorable was a photograph, taken during the Law-Medical Cricket Match, showing Dr. Perera in fancy dress as Carmen Miranda, showing off long shapely legs, and sitting on the lap of Sir Ivor Jennings, who was the Vice Chancellor of the University at the time!
His demise on October 10, 2013, marks the end of an era, he being the last of a breed of doctors who were considered to be giants of respectability, and were revered, and loved. Farewell beloved Sir! Though you are no longer with us in the flesh, memories of what you were and what you taught us will continue to inspire and influence our lives. May You Rest in Peace!
Dr. Suriyakanthie Amarasekera