Tarique's health
The Internet edition of almost all the newspapers from Bangladesh is raising a lot of hoopla about the deteriorating heath condition of the two ex- prime ministers. Reluctantly, I am willing to grant them medical treatment of the highest quality in foreign land after all they led the nation with people's legitimate mandate. But there is no reason why Tarique and Arafat should be accorded the same treatment. They are no superior to any other citizen in a similar situation.
Standard of care for any medical condition is defined by the locally available expertise and resources. For example, a patient with acute heart attack may require immediate coronary angiogram and opening of the blockage by certain intervention. But if the expertise is not available in a small rural hospital, the standard of care is to go along with non-invasive procedure. Appropriate care for any medical ailment thus is a function of available expertise and resource.
Tarique deserves the health care that is available locally. No matter, how his concerned mother may feel, the government should stick to the notion of standard care.
After all, Tarique Rahman's mother is largely responsible for the current standard of health care in Bangladesh!
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