I would like to make a frank and honest statement here, that I dare say could be made by thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of physicians all across America. I am an internal medicine doctor who works in both the acute care hospital and outpatient setting. I have not only had COVID myself, but also treated many hospitalized patients since March (thankfully, becoming fewer with each passing month). I entered this profession to help people and advocate for the health and well-being of my patients. I would therefore like to say the following:
Over the last several weeks, I have seen many times more patients who have suffered with the effects of lockdown—in terms of delayed diagnoses, missing crucial appointments, cancelled procedures, neglecting their own everyday health (worsened eating and exercise habits), depression, anxiety, alcoholism, overdoses… the list goes on… than I have of patients who have actually suffered from COVID-19. Like multiple more, it’s not even close.
Lockdown and shutting down the country including businesses and schools, to slow the spread of this virus, cannot be viewed in isolation. This is not to minimize what’s happened, and how serious COVID can be in some people (heck, I’ve looked all of those patients in the eye and helped them through their illness). Western countries will actually suffer much less “collateral damage” than developing nations (the United Nations has already projected that over 130 million more people will go hungry worldwide in 2020, nearly all of these in the third world). But I would not be being a good doctor if I didn’t raise this issue as I see so many problems arising in my patients. I therefore make an urgent call to national medical leadership and even the government; to acknowledge, take very seriously, and provide help for, another health disaster that is unfolding before our very eyes. Before it’s too late for millions of people.
Suneel Dhand is a physician, writer, and YouTuber. He is Co-Founder at
Well done Suneel…as you know, I live in a senior community and I see the effects all over with my fellow residents. While we have staved off the virus for the most part, the toll on us elders is undeniable!
The mental health community – psychiatry, psychology, social workers etc. are so disorganized and estranged from one another, it is probable that they can’t muster the resources necessary to help us or the larger population.
Compounding that situation is the terrible national/world affairs that increase anxiety and related problems.
We are mostly WWIII survivors and somewhat beyond and the changes we have experienced in our lifetimes have been monumental. Add these new threats and we are now literally bystanders and cannot help or become active for does nothing to help us to remain stable.
At our older age, our adaptability compromised for most part, seniors and others are left to the mercy of their environments and the lack of agencies to help them.
Darwin was right! Survival of the fittest and we are not a fit country.
Sue, great points. I believe one of the greatest travesties of this whole COVID response, has been that nobody has asked our elderly what their views are. Zero representation in the media. So many people presume to speak for them. Regards, and thanks as always for reading. Suneel
Yes. Thank you for speaking out.