Followers

Saturday

Islamic medication?

I clearly remember a case in the Hospital, when a girl presented with rash that looked like allergic rash- urticaria. And there was a different type of rash on both of her legs- erythema multiforme. We tried very extensively to find the allergen (the cause of the rash) or in other words, "What was she allergic to?" Unfortunately we failed, but her mother mentioned something about their neighbour who also had prolonged rash, and probably it was due to the water or something..
But of course we did try to rule out bacterial infecion, because when I looked at the rash on the leg, it resembled something called 'bull-eye rash' which can be found in patient with Lyme disease- a disease caused by bacterial infection. And her blood investigation actually pointed in the direction of bacterial infection.

To cut everything short, she was put on medication via infusion. The next day, one of my classmate presented her case to our Dr-lecturer. Well, it was kind of a sensational mystery as to what did the child actually had. Whenever we have mysterious case in the ward, we'll 
present it to our lecturer, in the hope of getting a second opinion with regard to the diagnosis.

Shockingly, when we went to the patient's bed, the curtain was drawn around her and her mother was sitting outside the cubicle, crying. We were curiosed! But the drawn curtain indicated nothing more than a blood-taking procedure was being done. After the procedure has ended, we went to the patient, eagerly waiting for our lecturert o examine the patient and give us his opinion. This time around, I was shocked to see that the rash has all flared up and her legs looked like swollen red bats. She cried continuously because initialy the rash being itchy, has taken a monstrous turn into being extremely painful. Our lecturer suspected bacterial infection. By then, antibiotic has been given through infusion. She couldn't be examined actually because she was crying in pain. Now instead of being just 'mysterious', she was the 'hot topic' in the ward.

In the evening, approximately 2 hours after our class as ended, I again visited the patient, just to say hi. By that time I was in a good and friendly term with the mum. Suddenly, the mum whispered to me "This rash is automatic". I was confused and ask "What do you mean by automatic?" She said that just few hours before, the rash was very painful to touch, and now the rash has almost gone, and it was not painful anymore. I examined her, and yes true to her words, the rash has cleared up a bit.. and YES she was not in pain! I was dumbfounded, trying to find some explanation to the situation, when suddenly she whispered again "Tadi waktu melawat, ada org kampung datang baca-baca ayat sket (Jampi)" I just nodded, not knowing how to reply. I mean it was not that weird, she has taken antibiotic for 3 doses if i am not mistaken, most probably the bacteria has started to show some degree of defeat"

A colleague who was actually handling the case, came to my rescue when he took over the conversation with the mum. I stepped back and went to check on my Asthma patient who was not at all mysterious but pitiful. So aforementioned the girl being the talk-of-the-ward hot topic, we discussed over her case in the classroom, and the gossip was spiced up and ignited again when the mum decided to refuse treatment, and wanted her daughter to be discharged at own risk- It merely means she wanted to bring her daughter out of the hospital at her own risk, and should anything happens afterward, the hospital won't be responsible.. The plan? To bring her daughter to a skillful bomoh.

I felt worried becuase if true her condition was due to bacterial infection, then she really needed the antibiotic. After persuasion and avice from the doctors, the family insisted, and the next day, I tried to find them but they were gone..

The real issue was, was there any better way for the doctors to deal with this matter? I mean we discussed and discussed of how should we talk and explain to the mum.. and yet we failed to convince them. As muslims we do believe in the supernatural, in the unseen.. It is one of the pillars of Iman- to have faith in perkara ghaib. But to believe in jampi with no known evidence that the jampi was not affecting our AQIDAH?? And what is 
wrong in using both the Islamic and conventional way of treating an illness? The conventional 
way is also the Islamic way, if only we start with Bismillah, believe that Allah cures everything 
and leave everything to Him after we have tried our best! 

To conclude, we failed with the patient, this time around... We failed to be a good daie to the family, may Allah grant us His mercy and forgiveness...

No comments: