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Ranjana SrivastavaThe Guardian |
“Ranjana, how long can Fifi live with liver cancer?” An unexpected aspect of being an oncologist (for humans) is being approached for advice about...
It’s fair to say my patients were using cannabis long before I knew it was a “thing”. My first memory of encountering the drug was a decade ago...
”Don’t judge me, but I saw a chiropractor”, says my friend. Last time we discussed her lower back pain, I had advised her to keep moving, avoid...
“Hold your mum’s hand and call an ambulance.” “Should I give her extra morphine?” “Good idea.” Then I say something I rarely say when I...
“It must be cancer. Just look at her face and hair.” Even knowing that she meant well, I stopped my friend from speculating about his aunt....
“And one more thing, what do you want to do about this?” The trainee looks so apologetic that I suspect a medical error relating to our...
Nearing the end of his life, a patient tells me, “If you should ever need it, I hope your doctor is as good to you as you have been to me.” It is...
“Why do you want a dog? Don’t you have enough to do?” To be fair, my parents had reacted similarly to my decision to have a third child and...
Every December a hospital communique concerning gifts “provided and received in the course of your work” lands in my inbox. It says, naturally,...
“Every time I talk to you, I feel more distressed.” Tears stream down the patient’s face as she claps her palms over both ears to shut me out. I...
“You look upset, how can I make you feel better?” The seriousness of the question and its sheer empathy stops me short in class. We are both...
“Don’t take it personally, doctor, but it has been a dreadful experience.” I tell her that far from taking offence, I am sympathetic because in...
“And now, thanks to you, I have an upset surgeon on my hands. What do you think will happen to the waiting list?” As a senior surgeon bellows down...
“I am sorry to trouble you, but she says she’s bedbound and would rather die than have further chemo.” This message elicits the immediate...