निश्चेतक | nishchetak | anaesthetist

The Silence of the Anaesthetist

Dr Buttan has a concerned appearance upon entering the operating theatre. He sees patients in a different way from all the other doctors, for he will be the one to put them to sleep to enable a procedure.

The process is calculative, precise, and that is where the already focused expression becomes even more intense. When the patient arrives at the OT, the anaesthetist has already observed and calculated their details and requirements. Children, for example, can be fractious, with lots of emotion and movement. Adults can be nervous and anxious, but as soon as the anaesthetist has their hands on them, they fall gently into a deep sleep.

Monitors affirm, beeping punctuates. One very slight error can have disastrous consequences.