A Day of Emergency Admissions in Ward No. 14 at Sassoon Hospital

A day in Ward No. 14 at Sassoon Hospital, during emergency admissions, brings back memories from 25 years ago during my residency days. Hundreds of patients, wards packed to the brim, even floor beds were used!

Yet, there was an unwritten rule: whenever a patient expired, that bed was kept empty for 24 hours before admitting another patient. This was never written in any circular, but every resident followed it. It was an unspoken respect, a tribute silently paid to the deceased.

Today, when hospitals measure success by the number of beds, when occupancy rates are prioritized over patient care, and an empty bed is seen as inefficiency, such a rule might seem foolish. But back then, there was faith; today, there is a system. Then, the person was a 'patient'; now, they are a 'customer'.

Back then, a bed was kept empty for 24 hours as a mark of respect. Today, wards are full, but time and respect for people remain empty.

I share this memory today because some things are not policies; they are values. Some discipline does not come from rules but is preserved from the heart. This is the place of humanity that we must still protect, even if it means keeping a bed empty!