A video of a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) saving the life of a 70-year-old passenger on a train has gone viral on social media. The incident occurred in the general coach of train number 15708, Amrapali Express where the elderly passenger suddenly required medical attention. The TTE swiftly sprang into action, administering lifesaving Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

A viral clip shared by the Ministry of Railways captured the intense moment, showing the TTE performing CPR on the conscious passenger. Thanks to the TTE’s prompt intervention, the passenger was stabilised and later rushed to a hospital from Bihar’s Chhapra railway station.

“TTE’s promptness gave ‘life’. While travelling in the general coach of train number 15708 ‘Amrapali Express’, a 70-year-old passenger suffered a heart attack. The TTE deployed there immediately gave CPR and saved the life of the passenger. The passenger was then sent to the hospital at Chhapra railway station,” the post shared by the Ministry of Railways read. 

See the post here:

टीटीई की तत्परता से मिला ‘जीवनदान’
ट्रेन संख्या 15708 ‘आम्रपाली एक्सप्रेस’ के जनरल कोच में सफ़र के दौरान 70 वर्षीय एक यात्री को हार्ट अटैक आने पर तैनात टीटीई ने बिना समय गंवाए CPR दिया और यात्री की जान बचाई। तत्पश्चात छपरा रेलवे स्टेशन पर यात्री को अस्पताल भेज दिया गया। pic.twitter.com/vxqsTEkir7

— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) November 23, 2024

The video has sparked intense debate on social media, with some users praising the TTE’s quick thinking and others questioning the administration of CPR on a conscious individual. Medical experts typically recommend CPR only for people who are unresponsive or have stopped breathing. Many doctors expressed concern over the viral video, labeling it “misleading” and potentially detrimental to public health. They urged the Railways to remove the clip from social media, fearing it could incorrectly influence people’s understanding of proper CPR techniques.

A doctor said, “Don’t give CPR to awake patients and mouth to mouth breathing not required here plus the faulty compressions. If you really want to create awareness delete this video, force govt to start giving mandatory CPR lessons right from schools and colleges.”

“Performing CPR on a conscious patient is very dangerous and wrong. This is no joke. CPR is a life-saving procedure. Please delete this video so that people don’t lose lives over misinformation,” another doctor wrote. 

I have filed a RTI request for information about this so-colled CPR. Hope the Ministry of Railway will respond properly. pic.twitter.com/vHe4pulJaC

— Dr. Vishnu Rajgadia (@VishnuRajgadia) November 24, 2024

Activist Dr Vishnu Rajgadia has also filed a Right to Information (RTI) application seeking details about the incident and requesting information about the TTE’s medical training and the Railways’ investigation into the incident.

Meerut:

A junior doctor was allegedly hit on the head several times with a metal tool by a patient’s family members at Lala Lajpat Rai Medical College here, officials said on Tuesday.

In the wake of the incident, the doctors went on a strike and also suspended the emergency service sitting at the department’s gate.

The doctors demanded the arrest of the assault accused as a condition of the strike call-off.

Lala Lajpat Rai Medical College Principal Dr RC Gupta told PTI that on Monday night some people had brought a woman in a dying condition.

Doctors posted in the emergency checked on the woman and declared her dead, after which, the attendants created a ruckus alleging negligence in her treatment, he said.

In the commotion, someone hit junior doctor Manish on his head several times with a spanner used in opening oxygen cylinders, he said.

According to Dr Gupta, a case has been registered against unknown persons at the Medical police station in connection with the incident.

“The striking doctors are not ready to return to work unless the accused are arrested and efforts are being made to persuade them,” she said.

The doctors, protesting under the leadership of Dr Sakshi, the president of the Junior and Residents Association, are also demanding a round-the-clock police deployment in their security.

Medical Police Station SHO Shailesh Kumar told PTI a case had been registered against two people and efforts were on to arrest them. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Excessive duty hours pose risks to the physical and mental health of medics and also compromise patient safety, an NMC taskforce said while recommending that resident doctors work no more than 74 hours a week and get a day off every week.

Ensuring seven to eight hours of sleep daily for medical students is crucial for their mental and physical health and requests for leave should be judiciously considered and not unreasonably declined, the National Task Force on Mental Health and Wellbeing of Medical Students said in its report.

Collaborative planning of duty hours by heads of departments, faculty, senior residents and residents needs to be done and, if there is an increased clinical workload, the hospital or medical college should hire more senior residents and medical officers, it said.

“It is imperative to recognise that postgraduates and interns primarily serve educational purposes rather than filling gaps in healthcare staffing,” it added.

Strict implementation of National Medical Commission (NMC) regulations on ragging is also mandatory, according to the taskforce report.

It emphasised that medical colleges should have active anti-ragging cells with strict penalties for offenders to mitigate the stress induced by ragging.

Medical colleges could consider granting a 10-day vacation at least once a year to both undergraduate and postgraduate medical students on a rotational basis, the taskforce said and unsderscored that this would allow the medics to meet their family members that could foster bonding.

It also called for appropriate conditions such as comfortable rest areas, nutritious meals and hydration facilities for medics during duty hours.

Hospitals should provide regular breaks and ensure food availability in duty rooms, it said.

The taskforce also recommended a gatekeeper training programme in medical colleges aimed at establishing a proactive network for identifying at-risk individuals and connecting them with professional help.

This programme will involve comprehensive training for participants to recognise warning signs and refer students to mental health services.

With the support of psychiatry departments, local protocols should be developed and the gatekeeper training programme initiated across the campus, involving all stakeholders, the taskforce said.

“Mental health education should be integrated into undergraduate and postgraduate curricula through lectures, workshops and seminars,” it said in the report and recommended that medical teachers, students and the administration should undergo regular training in mental health — either through periodic in-person sessions or online via the Swayam portal.

“The training modules should cover mental health, stress management, building resilience, prevention of substance use, gatekeeper training and basic counselling techniques. Specific emphasis should be placed on handling confidentiality matters concerning individuals with mental illness,” it said.

It also called for abolishing fees for repeating semesters, saying this would reduce economic burden and stress.

Transparent and standardised grading systems and an independent appeals process are essential, it added.

For evaluation and assessment methods, it said “a fair and unbiased evaluation system is essential” and suggested that institutions could offer a mix of grading systems to reduce stress and promote a collaborative learning environment.

The task force also recommended introducing supplementary exams to reduce academic pressure and anxiety and for providing a fairer assessment system and supporting student wellbeing.

It suggested announcing exam results using roll numbers to enhance privacy, reduce stress and promote a fair academic environment.

Expanding postgraduate medical seats addresses healthcare needs, enhances specialist care and reduces student migration, the report said.

The taskforce also recommended abolishing seat-leaving fees or bonds.

Students who abandon their seats after admission should be prohibited from applying to medical colleges for 24 months from the date of leaving, it suggested.

Additionally, medical colleges can fill the vacated seat in the same category (government/management seat) in the next calendar year.

The report said a comprehensive orientation programme within four weeks for undergraduate students and two weeks for postgraduate students upon joining was essential for new entrants.

“This programme should introduce students to the medical profession, campus resources and the importance of physical, mental and spiritual health,” it said and also recommended involving family members during the induction programme and periodically, at least once a year, reasoning that it would help them understand the expectations and stressors faced by medics.

This understanding would enable families to provide effective support and enhance the ability of students to cope with academic and clinical demands.

“Implementing a 24/7 support system, such as the TeleMANAS initiative by the Union Ministry of Health, is advisable. Medical colleges should have plans for referral, evaluation, management and follow-up for students with mental illnesses. Confidential, accessible counselling services must be widely promoted. Medical colleges should consider appointing at least two counsellors for every 500 students,” the report said.

Medical colleges should provide free diagnostics and treatment, including medicines, for physical and mental health issues within the campus, it stated.

The taskforce also suggested that the NMC should establish a national portal for grievance redress, enabling secure and efficient complaint handling

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

On the occasion of Doctor’s Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said his government is fully committed to improving the health infrastructure in India and ensuring doctors get the widespread respect they deserve.

July 1 is observed as the National Doctor’s Day to commemorate Bidhan Chandra Roy, a renowned doctor who served as West Bengal chief minister too, and whose birth and death anniversary fall on this day.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Greetings on #Doctors Day. This is a day to honour the incredible dedication and compassion of our healthcare heroes. They can navigate the most challenging complexities with remarkable skill.” “Our Government is fully committed to improving the health infrastructure in India and ensuring doctors get the widespread respect they deserve,” he said.

In another post on X, the prime minister hailed chartered accountants for their “vital role” in shaping the country’s economic landscape.

“Happy Chartered Accountants Day! CAs play a vital role in shaping our economic landscape. Their expertise and strategic insights are beneficial for businesses and individuals alike,” Modi said.

“They also contribute significantly to economic growth and stability. They are equally integral to our financial well-being,” he said. 

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

A doctor should not use an unusually large signboard and write on it anything other than his name, qualifications, titles, specialty or registration number, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has suggested, saying his prescription papers should also have the same contents.

It is improper to affix a signboard on a chemist’s shop or in places where he does not reside or work, the NMC’s Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) said in its E-Book: “Professional Conduct Review – Lessons from Case Archives”.

The book also highlighted that trust deficit in the doctor-patient relationship leads to litigation against the doctors and emphasised that the most common cause of complaints against doctors is due to a communication gap.

The commission stated that care should be taken not to mislead the public through signboards, visiting cards, announcements etc.

Medical practitioners may acquire skills and training in various areas related to a particular field, but the use of the title ‘consultant/specialist’ should be restricted to those who are qualified in the particular speciality, it said.

As an appellate body, the Ethics and Medical Registration Board of the NMC has been hearing cases of misconduct and passing judgments.

The need to disseminate the learnings from the complaint cases against doctors was felt right from the beginning, Dr Yogender Malik, editor of the booklet and member of the Ethics and Medical Registration Board of the NMC, said.

The thought was shared with the board and a group of experts was formed.

They worked very hard, going through hundreds of pages of each case and summarised them without losing the essence of the case and the message, he stated.

The case studies in the book show that it is very difficult for a patient to differentiate between ethics, conduct and negligence, the NMC said.

Doctors too feel that patients have no right to complain unless there is harm, the NMC stated.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The issue of drug overdose has become a persistent concern on American streets in recent times. Data by US federal government indicates that a drug overdose claims one life every five minutes in the country. Now the flesh-eating “zombie drug” is causing alarm on the US streets, literally rotting people’s bodies, and medical professionals appear to be struggling to effectively combat its effects.

“Zombie Drug”, as tranq is known in the US, is a drug used as a tranquillizer on cows and horses. It is flooding the country, with people procuring it through illegal means. Dealers often mix it with other illegal drugs like fentanyl and heroin.

Tranq is posing a significant challenge for medical experts as it has overshadowed the other drugs coming into the country through illicit routes. This is adding complexity to nearly every facet of treatment and rehabilitation, making it exceedingly difficult for medical professionals to effectively address the issue.

“The clinical picture becomes much more diabolical, a lot harder to follow, and a lot more can go wrong” when tranq is involved, Dr Paolo Coppola, the board-certified co-founder of Victory Recovery Partners in Massapequa Park, told The New York Post in a recent interview.

Overdoses involving xylazine are much harder to treat, Dr Coppola said, because the miracle opioid overdose reversal drug Narcan doesn’t work on the sedative.

“When an addict uses a speedball of cocaine and heroin, we can deal with that without a problem. You reverse the heroin so they start breathing again, and you wait for the cocaine to finish up,” he said.

“Xylazine doesn’t work that way,” the doctor continued. “When they come to the emergency room, you fully expect them to wake up when you push the Narcan… but all of a sudden it’s not really working; they’re not waking up.”

Dr Coppola explained that the existence of tranquillizers frequently prompts doctors to turn to substitute medications as a means to stabilise a patient’s diminishing blood pressure or rapidly declining heart rate.

“We think, ‘Wait a minute, he’s on suboxone and he’s on a good enough dose, so why is he still irritable and anxious? Why is his blood pressure up? Why is he having seizures?’ Dr Coppola said, referring to the medication used to treat narcotic dependence.

“If they’ve been using xylazine long enough with their fentanyl, they’ll have withdrawal effects from the xylazine, which screws us up.”