India is currently witnessing the second wave of
coronavirus pandemic which has caused havoc in people’s life. No one including
the scientists and health officials thought that the second wave of the
infection will be more disastrous and will cause an exponential increase in the
number of cases as well as death. India for over the past three weeks has been reporting
over 3 lakh cases in a day. The increase in infection cases has collapsed
the medical infrastructure of the nation as at hospitals there lies the shortage of
beds and medical oxygen.
In these hard times, doctors too have to make certain harsh decisions to allot a bed to a patient whose life could be saved. Dr. Rohan Aggarwal, who is 26 years old, is tirelessly working with Holy Family Hospital to save the life of those battling against the contagious disease. Dr. Aggrawal has to make the toughest decisions amidst the pandemic when he sees the attendants or the family members of the patient pleading for mercy as their patient gasps for a breath.
Dr. Aggarwal works for 27 hours a day which includes his overnight shift as in-charge of the emergency room at his New Delhi hospital.
In a conversation with an eminent news agency Dr. Aggarwal said, “Everyone including patients, relatives, and staff at Holy Family Hospital know there are not enough beds, oxygen, or ventilators to keep everyone who arrives at the hospital’s front gates alive.”
"Who to be saved, who not to be saved should be decided by God," Aggarwal said.
"We are not made for that – we are just humans. But at this point in time, we are being made to do this."
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Apart from this, Dr. Aggarwal also has to make a choice regarding whose life is important “an old man or a young guy” patient. This decision comes at a time when both the patients require high-flow oxygen. However, there is only one bed available in the ICU.
He further added, “I don’t have to think emotionally that he is a father to someone.”
“The young have to be saved,” he added.
Amidst the harrowing surge of the Covid-19, Dr. Aggarwal fears that “what would happen to him if he gets infected, knowing that his own hospital will be unlikely to find him a bed.”
It may be noted here; the Holy Family Hospital has the capacity to treat 275 adults, and presently is caring for 385.