One of the few sanskrit quotes that has meaning for me.

Satyam Bruyat (Tell the truth)
Priyam Bruyat (Tell the truth pleasantly)
Na Bruyat Satyam Apriyam (Don’t tell a truth that is unpleasant)
Priyam ca nanrutam bruyat (Don’t tell untruth even if it is pleasant)
Esha Dharmah Sanatanah (This is the path of sanatana dharma)

This doesn’t translate to one should not speak the truth if it is unpleasant, but rather say it in a way that does not cause harm to the person because of your use of words.

Today’s story is a an example of that.

A patient comes barging into the OPD today (not uncommon). Though it has been many months since I have seen this patient, the grandfather starts talking with pressured speech and begins to sob. As I thumb through the chart, it becomes obvious that since my last encounter, my colleagues have appropriately palliated this young sweet boy due to progression of disease on treatment in a case with a poor prognosis. On inquiring what has happened, the distraught grandfather replies that he had just come from our dietician team and that he was told never to come back, and that his file was “closed” (means no further treatment to be given). Though source of the stress was likely less related to the dietician team and more related to the recent palliation of his active playful child, it was likely that a terse conversation took place between the patient family and our ancillary support team, as often the directive mode of communication is used while talking with patients here. It is not intentional, but not excusable as the last thing a palliated patient wants to hear is “don’t come here anymore.” Even if it is true that we cannot offer anything, we should not withdraw our emotional support in their time of need.

As a team, we are all guilty of this, but losing our humanity in the pressure to get work done will slowly drain the compassion and respect that all people, regardless of class, deserve.