I was the Anesthetist in a C-section today. Patient had a history of high grade fever with sore throat and mild shortness of breath. We sent the patient for covid screening first. They just did her Blood CP and documented on her file that patient does not have covid.

Me and Ob-gyn residents went to the DMS to get this patient’s PCR done before her surgery. DMS refused and said ‘ jab medicine walon ne document kardiya hai k corona nae hai tou PCR kyun karana hai’

We asked for PPEs. He refused to provide them saying we only provide PPE for operating on a patient with positive PCR for covid.

I went to my senior and requested to arrange PPE for me, to which he said ‘ yeh tou aisay hi hai jaisay ap grocery store pe grocery karnay jao aur wahan dukandar ko corona ho, kuch nae hota’

I was shocked at his response. They have the audacity to trivialise the situation while sitting in their offices, throwing us to face the fire without any protection.

Surgery ho gai. Patient bhi chali gai. But how do I get rid of this feeling? That our lives don’t matter?