iRADiX

It never ever occurred to me that I should do private practice – not as an intern - when I was deciding on a specialty to choose as a career – not today when it appears that private practice will be ‘legalized’ for us.

Why? Many have asked me off and on. Those who are close to me and know me well have sort of written me off – “He is slightly off…” they would say and some of you, I am sure, will readily agree- perhaps increasing the “slightly” scale!

Over the years, I have easily adjusted to a lifestyle that suits my pocket. I have few wants though one of them is an expensive hobby; but, mostly I make my ends meet with my handsome BMC pay – cuts and all - and my wife supports me when the well runs dry.

It was one of those hot but cloudy October afternoons. As I stood sipping a hot cup of coffee outside the canteen , I saw two senior professors -both known for their hot-headedness - animatedly arguing outside the library. I thought a punch would soon follow - but then some one joined me and I lost touch of the "Two Professors Action"

Days later, sitting in the cool of the MLT waiting for the Dean to arrive for one of those, now familiar, HODs meeting - I found both those professors - lets call then Professor O and Professor F -(that's 128 bit encryption) - sitting a few seats away. Curious as to what they were fighting about, I asked -
"Hey! What was it that the two of you were fighting about the other day outside the library"?
"YOU". Pat came the reply from "Professor O"
Generally known for my peace making rather than peace breaking nature, I was aghast.
"Now, what have I done?"
As Professsor O rambled on, the realization slowly dawned on me that the fight was not about what I had done; but, rather about what I had not done.
The argument , it turned out, was about how the head of the department of radiology could say that he knew next to nothing of ultrasound and get way with it and ask one of his junior colleagues to do the ultrasound examination of a very close relative of Professor F.
At this time, Professor F joined in His face was smiling - but , inside him , he was dead serious as he said:
"YOU can get away with it because you are RR. If any of us say such a thing we would get a "memo".
I did not know whether feel good or bad about it; but I did feel sorry for ProfessorF - I had let him and his relative down - or had I really?