Q1: "I have done something; oh, God! I've done something real at last." Why does Andrew say this? What does it mean?
Ans: Andrew says this because he has achieved a genuine, practical success after a long period of study and uncertainty. He had not only delivered Susan Morgan's baby safely but, more importantly, he revived a baby who was apparently stillborn. After the delivery Susan's strength was failing and she was almost pulseless; Andrew gave her an injection and worked hard to stabilise her heart. To revive the infant he first tried a special method of artificial respiration and then alternated hot and cold water, all without success for some time. Finally he rubbed the baby with a rough towel and repeatedly pressed and released the little chest with both hands. Gradually the baby's chest heaved, a bubble of mucus came from the nose, the skin turned from pale to pink, and at last the baby cried. Andrew's cry to God expresses his sense of having accomplished something tangible and heroic - a real, lifesaving act that proved his ability as a practising physician rather than mere theoretical knowledge.
Q2: 'There lies a great difference between textbook medicine and the world of a practising physician.' Discuss.
Ans: Textbook medicine provides the theoretical foundation-diagnoses, treatments and standard procedures. The world of a practising physician, however, is far more unpredictable and demands quick judgement, experience and practical skill. In emergencies such as burn injuries, snakebites or drowning, a doctor may not have ideal facilities at hand. In these situations first aid and improvisation can be the difference between life and death. A practising physician must assess a patient at the bedside, make rapid decisions, use the resources available, and sometimes adapt standard methods to fit the circumstances. Practical skills, calmness under pressure and hands-on experience therefore complement textbook learning. In short, textbooks teach what should be done; practice teaches how to do it when conditions are imperfect - and often saves lives. A stitch in time, as the proverb says, does save nine in such cases.
Q3: Do you know of any incident when someone has been brought back to life from the brink of death through medical help? Discuss medical procedures such as organ transplant and organ regeneration that are used to save human life.
Ans: I have seen and heard of many incidents where medical help brought people back from the brink of death. Common examples include successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after cardiac arrest, use of a defibrillator to restore a normal heartbeat, and prompt treatment for severe wounds or poisoning that prevents irreversible damage. Modern hospitals combine emergency care, surgery and intensive monitoring to revive patients who otherwise would not survive. Organ transplant is another major life-saving procedure. Organs such as the kidney, liver, heart and cornea are transplanted into patients whose own organs have failed. Transplant surgery depends on careful donor-recipient matching, safe surgical technique and drugs to prevent rejection. Blood banks and eye banks help store and supply blood and corneas when needed. Organ preservation techniques - for example cold storage - keep organs viable until transplantation. Organ regeneration and tissue engineering are developing fields in which damaged tissues are repaired or replaced using stem cells, engineered tissues or laboratory-grown material; these methods aim to reduce dependence on donor organs. With continued advances in surgery, immunosuppression and regenerative medicine, more lives can be saved and the quality of recovery improved.
