People & Life: A Tribute to Dr.Kayathri Periasamy Consultant Physician & DiebetologistBy Dr.Levins T.C.Rajaratnam
(June 24, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian)My mother is 75 years of age, although she still conceals her age. She had diabetes for more than 30years and for the past few years she was irritable, highly stressed with a high blood sugar level and from tablets she was put on insulin injection twice daily. She was a frequent visitor to various hospitals in Colombo. Being a widow of a former Judge of the Supreme Court and Member of Parliament, it was hard to convince her. She would do exactly what she desired and had no control over her diet. Over the years her health was deteriorating and it was difficult with my Public life and work schedule to take care of her personally.
For a day she used to call me a dozen times for trivial matters although there was assistance for her. Early last month, a Lady Doctor working at Lady Ridgeway hospital met me at a hospital where I was with my mother about to leave after her insulin injection, told me to consult a Doctor by the name of Dr. Kayathri Periasamy. I hardly took notice of that recommendation, Two days later, my mother’s condition was worse as she could hardly walk, I met the same lady Doctor who spoke to my mother and told her to consult Dr.Kayathri Periaswamy and to make an appointment through e channeling service. Accordingly, I called 225 from my dialog mobile phone and requested the appointment for the next day. The next day I took my mother to Healthy Life Clinic at 24,Col.T.G.Jayewardena Mawatha(Clifford Road) Colombo-03(Tel 01147004700/ HOTLINE 0773511511) at 3 p.m. My mother went into the consultation room and after 10 minutes I was called in by the nurse. As I walked into the Consultation Room, I was impressed by the dynamic, serene, caring and authoritative personality of Dr.Kayathri Periasamy. I noticed that my mother seemed relaxed and pleased which I have not seen in decades. One look at Dr.Kayathri, you would submit yourself totally into her care as her personality as a learned Doctor of Medicine, a Specialist in healthcare, her kind but firm disposition commands respect although she is a kind lady. Dr.Kayathri explained my mother’s health condition and said that she would direct her to a dietician in her Clinic and would take complete control of my mother’s diabetic condition. My mother visited her clinic for a couple of days and each time my mother walked back from the consultation room to the injection room, Dr.Kayathri would personally come over and see RBS(Random Blood Sugar) level and to determine the necessity of insulin, and now she is off insulin injection , but on tablets. I could see a complete transformation of my mother as she is relaxed, not irritable and highly pleased with Dr.Kayathri Periasamy so much so that she told me that She wants to visit the clinic every day just to see Dr.Kayathri’s face and that she feels fine, confident and is able to walk. So my little daughter perused through the internet and saved a photo of Dr.Kayathri and pasted it in the inner cover of the medical file. Whenever I visit her, I noticed my mother keeps the file open. So, I asked her one day why she kept the file open, whenever I close it for which she responded angrily, “how else can I see the Doctor, each time I see her face I feel she is looking at me and taking care of me”. Now my mother has continued to take care of her white hair, conscious of how she looks and is confident of herself.
Dr.Kayatrhri has compassion and emphathy; she is kind, compassionate, humane, considerate, tolerant, generous, empathic and sensitive. She has genuine concern for her patients. Communication plays an important role between doctor and patients, colleagues or public . being a good Doctor is more than academic excellance. It involves a right attitudes, aptitude, commitment, demeanor and above all a heart of service.
A good doctor is still one who listens to the patients and helps them make sense of their experiences. The acknowledgement of where the patient is coming from and where the patient hopes to get to, and realistically can reach, is intrinsic to good medical practice.
The focus is entirely individualistic, and the values in play are only those of the doctor and the patient. The basic duty of the doctor is to understand the patient's values. The interaction between doctor and patient is based on duty, not utility, and so is only valid for that doctor and that patient.
To me and our Family Dr.Kayathri Periasamy is an angel who saved my mother not only from diabetes but the related illnesses of stress and depression.
The writer can be reached at tcrajaratnam@gmail.com
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