A Renowned Laparoscopic And Bariatric Surgeon From India.
A Renowned Laparoscopic And Bariatric Surgeon Srom India.
Well, I have been meaning to write this since the passing of Mr. Piyush Pandey, the advertising wizard of Ogilvy. Over the past few days, social media has been flooded with the unforgettable ads he created—each one a reminder of how he shaped our collective …
Blessings alone are not enough to keep the lights on She entered my cabin with a bright smile, reminding me of our acquaintance from years ago. She thanked me profusely for changing her daughter’s life—this time, it was her son she had brought along. Between …
She is just 13 years old.
Six months ago, she weighed 153 kilos. Today, after 6 months of bariatric surgery, she weighs 112 kg.
She has lost 25% of her total body weight—a remarkable achievement by any medical standard. Physically, she’s doing better than ever. Emotionally, she’s struggling.
Because no school wants to take her in.
She hasn’t been to school since Grade 3. Her weight—and the judgement that came with it—forced her into homeschooling. Now, even after making such incredible progress, she finds herself rejected again. Every admission form, every interview, every polite refusal chips away at her self-worth.
She is a bright, curious, and articulate girl. But instead of celebrating her courage and recovery, the system is punishing her for a disease she never chose to have.
Obesity is not a failure of willpower. It’s a complex medical condition—one that affects the body, mind, and social identity. Yet, even when a child fights back with everything she has, stigma continues to stand in her way.
Schools need to do better.
Education is not just about marks—it’s about inclusion, empathy, and growth. A young girl’s potential must not be limited solely by her weight.
It breaks my heart that even after winning the battle against her body, she still has to fight one against society.
The Uterus Dialogues Iska “uterus” to thik hai na? (Is her uterus alright?) I am not a gynecologist. So, it took me a few moments to digest this question. It was thrown at me by a young patient’s mother who had accompanied her. For a …
God does His bit too! As surgeons, we are trained to give nothing but our best. In surgery, striving for perfection is a given- It is the ultimate non-negotiable aim. From the very beginning of our training, we are taught that the first time is …
As a lady doctor/surgeon, I end up having amusing experiences on some days.
Today, a lady came in with a rectal prolapse.
She’d already seen a male doctor but now wanted to consult a “lady doctor.”
We spoke, I examined her, explained the condition, and gave her my advice.
Then I said, “You should also see a gynecologist.”
She paused. “What’s a gynecologist? Is that a ladies’ doctor?”
“Yes,” I said, “the ladies’ doctor. That’s who you need to see next.”
She looked a bit confused.
“Oh… but we thought you were the lady doctor.”
I smiled. “Well, yes—I am a lady, and I am a doctor…
But I’m not the ladies’ doctor. I’m just a lady who’s a doctor.”
She wasn’t convinced. “So… you’re not the ladies’ doctor?”
“I mean, I am a lady doctor,” I said, “but not a ladies’only doctor.
“Ohh…” she said, “we came because we wanted to see the ladies’ doctor.”
By this point, I was in splits! ????
“Well, you saw the gentleman doctor. Now you’ve seen the lady doctor.
Just not the one you expected.”
Yesterday, a 44-year-old man living with a weight of 182 kg broke down in tears during the consultation. He did not cry because he was in any kind of physical pain. He cried because he felt utterly helpless—and scared. He cried because he could no …
“How old are you?” I asked.“42,” he said.“What do you do for a living?”“I used to work for one of the Big Fours. Now I’m retired.”At 42?Curious, I asked why.“I couldn’t handle the #stress. I’ve lived with #depression for years.” This wasn’t the first time …
The Power of Communication
Don’t come to see me again if you do not stop smoking and drinking alcohol!
Seven years ago, I had said this to one of my patients. At that time, it came from good intent (and probably a little bit of entitlement). Smoking can cause serious complications after any surgery. For us doctors, it’s a no-brainer.
I had meant it as lighthearted advice, hoping it would serve as negative motivation. But what I said in passing, was taken to heart by my patient. I never imagined he would take it so seriously.
Soon after, he was lost to follow-up. Our repeated calls went unanswered. Then COVID struck, and a few more years slipped by.
Last week, out of the blue, I received a desperate message from him: “Doctor, I really need your help! Can I see you?” He was suffering from multiple complications.
When he finally walked into my clinic, my first question was, “Why didn’t you reach out to us in all these years?”
“His reply stunned me: “Doctor, you had told me not to come back if I could not quit smoking and drinking….. And I couldn’t.”
In that moment, my heart sank as I realized the weight of my words. What I had dismissed as a casual remark had kept a patient away from care for years.
I had underestimated the power of addiction, and overestimated the impact of reprimand. Despite years of medical training, I had failed to acknowledge that addiction is not just a habit—it is a disease.
Patients don’t need ultimatums for their disease; they need guidance, empathy, and support. That day I learned an important lesson. Communication is as powerful as any prescription we write. The right words can inspire change, while careless ones can close doors for years.
As doctors, perhaps the best medicine we can offer is the ability to guide with compassion rather than judge with authority.
Despite years of experience, we sometimes falter. Time and again we are reminded that medicine is not just about science and skill, but also about humility and the willingness to reflect, to learn from our mistakes, and to correct ourselves for the sake of those who trust us with their lives.
©️Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker
Together through every step Seven years ago, Anaya walked into our clinic as a young, bubbly girl. She had struggled with obesity since puberty. She chose to undergo a bariatric surgery in the form of a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and stepped into a new phase …