Friday, July 31, 2009

Case No 1 ends

The Case No 1 had a very very sad ending. The lady is diagnosed of Severe Depression where one had excessive sadness and negative feelings without a cause - She was indeed insecure and not paranoic as the husband's infidelity in the past was confirmed later by the couple's older daughter. The daughter assures that there was a another woman in the past and no other now. She gets Psychiatric help. I was glad she was receiving the needed help. With further Psychotherapy and family support she will be almost fine. I looked around to find her husband. After all this woman was so much in love with him. It was the overpowering love for him and disappointments that made her a monster. With his support, she is definitely going to be fine.
To my surpirse, he was talking to his children emphatically as if won a battle. The main reason for his happiness apparently was the fact that it is his wife who has a problem and that he is "normal". The apparent lack of love was so evident that I didn't need to talk to him again. He is not sad for his wife, nor is he relieved that she will be receiving the required help.
When asked repeatedly for co-operation regarding his wife's treatment, he simply absconds citing 'work reasons' and not return at all even upon discharching his wife from hospital.
It made me feel sick. In my job,I am supposed to remain unbiased and non-judgemental. Have empathy and unconditional positive regard for all of my patients.
But the human in me cries out for the lady here. Until she was diagnosed of the problem, I held both of them equally responsible for the crises in their marriage. But him simply walking out at a very crucial moment emphatically by proving who is "not normal", according to him, makes it very unfair.
What has he achieved in proving that his wife has a problem. Hasn't he contributed to the problems in marriage by being very chauvenistic and unsupportive and unfaithful? Isn't he responsible for the woman he married after so many vows -until death do them apart - did he ever stand by her atleast to partially stick to his vow?
Now, my beloved patient, will return to her home, sorry house, to lead the loveless life she loathed so much so that she wanted to die. Doctors have saved her life, or have restored her vital organs to function effectively, for is there any life without zest or love???

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