A Luxury Called Health a Doctor's Journey Through the Art, the Science and the Trickery of Medicine
- 320 pages
- 12 hours of reading
The miracles and tragedies of life, alongside the compassion and cruelties of humanity, are vividly portrayed in this memoir by Kavery Nambisan, a sensitive doctor and writer. Drawing on her four decades of surgical experience in rural and small-town India, she shares poignant patient stories that reveal the highs and lows of medical practice. From Sudha in Mokama, Bihar, who, after being set on fire by her in-laws, remains determined to walk again, to construction workers in Lonavala, Maharashtra, opting for quick fixes to avoid losing wages, and four-year-old Pavana in the Anamallais, who endured a harrowing journey to the hospital after a leopard attack. In stark contrast, she highlights the privilege of a Tamil Nadu chief minister's friend, who could summon medical attention at will for minor issues. Now a GP in Kodagu, Karnataka, Kavery treats a range of ailments, including snake bites and tuberculosis, while also navigating the personal challenges of her patients, such as hiding savings from alcoholic spouses. Throughout, she reflects on the evolution of medical practice and India's public health landscape, intertwining her personal journey as a surgeon and caregiver to her late husband, poet Vijay Nambisan. Engaging and deeply felt, this work captures the complexities beneath the surface of healthcare.
