Punjab Healthcare Bill 2009: Mockery of the Healthcare System

Just when things couldn't get any dumber, they do. The Punjab Healthcare Bill 2009 is the dumbest thing that can happen to the healthcare system. The bill has been the cause of much dissent in the medical community for the last several weeks.

Aimed at "....regulating the unregulated healthcare sector in public and private sector with a view to curb unethical medical practice and improve the standard of healthcare in the province", the bill has innumerable shortcomings.

Here's some of what I want answered by the "genius" CM:

1. Why in the world, CM Sahib, did you need a foreigner to write this 150-page bill? I admit that you can't depend on the ineptness of a certain group of doctors, however, did you bother to realize that we're NOT all like that? And there are some of us who have the skills, expertise, and intelligence to draft this kind of bill....an even BETTER bill! I don't care how extensive Mike Naylor's experience may be, but no one can understand the on-ground realities better than the Pakistani medical doctor who lives and breathes these challenges on a daily basis. The fact that you had to panhandle for this too, is despicable. Why the incessant urge to turn to a foreigner every time you need a solution? Have you no faith in Pakistanis?
2. Your cronies insist that all stakeholders were consulted during the drafting of this bill. Are you sure? How come the PMA, the representative body, was left out?
3. "The ombudsman may undertake investigation into allegations of maladministration, malpractice or failures on the part of healthcare service providers................and will have the powers of a civil court in summoning any person, compelling the production of documents, receiving evidence on affidavits and issuing commission for the examination of witnesses. All executive authorities and law enforcement agencies of the government will act in aid of the health ombudsman." All this power to one person?? What qualifies him to undertake this position? What should his credentials be to qualify him as a health ombudsman? It has been visibly observed that individuals in similar authoritative positions have never had the academic qualification nor the moral acumen to raise the red flag on the institution they are hawk-eyeing.
4. "......an independent and separate entity completely free of external influence by the government or other channels, would inspect health facilities in public and private sector in an extremely impartial and systematic manner....." Amidst a series of corrupt institutions, how will you ensure the ombudsman and his team will be impartial and fair? I can safely say right now, the culprit doctors can and will easily pay off the ombudsman and ensure that allegations against them and their practice be immediately dropped. Everyone from the policemen to ministers are paid to look the other way. You cannot guarantee an overhaul of one system, when every other system is corrupt and its presiding authorities are easily bribed. This is about giving justice to patients, so fix the justice system first!
5. "It will neither recruit public employees nor have any direct operational link with the government to make it completely free of outside influence". Still not buying it. Hands down it's gonna be public employees and the "influence" is gonna be immense!
   
6. The bill is aimed at hospitals in the private sector as well. Does that mean Ittefaq Hospital will also be put under the spotlight?
   
7. Why not ensure facilities and services in the public sector first? This is where 95% of the population seeks healthcare from. But of course, you probably don't know that since every time you need a prescription you hop on a plane to London. By the way, then what was the point of building Ittefaq if you weren't even gonna use it for your own medical problems?
   
8. You have yet to regularize doctors working under the Punjab Rural Support Programme (PRSP). You want to re-vamp the system?....begin by honoring these doctors.
   

I hope there is a real crack down on the quacks and the doctors who are tarnishing this profession. But keep in mind, not all of us are like that! I'm all for accountability and responsibility. And there is no room whatsoever for negligence and carelessness when it comes to human life.

To those of us who work with total sincerity, professionalism, and commitment, we deserve adequate incentives. It is the lack of respect, insufficient salaries, and lack of quality post-graduate opportunities (that can bring us at par internationally) that forces so many of us to leave Pakistan and seek career advancement abroad. These issues need to be addressed just as urgently as revamping a healthcare system to improve the health services offered to patients.

And for god's sake put an end to the mushrooming of private medical colleges! They don't offer any quality medical education and are merely money-guzzling institutes. These medical colleges are the root cause of all the negligence that occurs in hospitals these days. We don't need an army of doctors who ultimately prove to be incompetent.

How Many More?

Rawalpindi Parade Lane Mosque: 40 dead and 80 injured today as they prayed the Friday prayer. Among the deceased: men, women, and children.

May they all rest in peace. Heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the relatives of the deceased. May Allah grant you the patience to endure this loss.

Prawn Curry and Collard Greens: A Defining Partnership

Last week, at the first state dinner of the Obama presidency, Manmohan Singh and Obama helped themselves to prawn curry, coconut flavored basmati rice, potato dumplings, and collard greens. While they savored the flavors and enjoyed the night away under a giant tent on the South Lawn of the White House with more than 300 guests, not a single media anchor in Pakistan bothered to analyze Singh's visit to the U.S.


"The relationship between the United States and India will be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century"....Obama said this not once, but twice. As Manmohan Singh cuddled up to Obama for the next 2 hours in the Oval Office, and finally got a chance to speak his heart out after India sat out for the longest time when W was running the show, we were too busy figuring out the Who's Who of the NRO list.


Not a single yapping political talk show host raised an eyebrow on what it was exactly that Singh was saying to Obama. Of all the foolish bickering and repetitive analyses that occurs on these shows, it wouldn't have hurt to finally talk about something important. Something that has legitimate consequences for Pakistan and is far more worthy of listening to than Firdous Ashiq Awan's characterisitic brute and crass yelling extravaganza.


The favoritism that America is playing cannot be ignored. Our country stands at a very critical moment in time. The war that our soldiers are fighting is not ours to begin with. In fact, it has no legitimate rationale. The daily deaths of 30, 50, 100 people in our cities is becoming a harsh and upsetting routine. Fact remains that the terrorism that occurs in our cities has been brought in. We're constantly compelled to answer questions on the international floor about issues that no one has a right to bully us about.


Someone needs to grow a backbone, more importantly a conscience, and stand up to all this. Our present leaders obviously will never. They are satisfied throwing rose petals at the feet of the US as they plan to trample us over. The game that India is trying to play cannot be allowed and should be stopped.


The considerable leeway that India gets from the US is appalling. And in all this time, Pakistan has been forced to stand in the corner. If we are the ally that US says we are, then when will we be treated like one?


Why is there no mention of the terrorism that occurs in India? A country, where an Australian missionary and his 2 sons are burned alive and thousands others for not being Hindu, should be questioned on its stance of "secular democracy".


The media can play a crucial role in thwarting and exposing India's deception. But, this can only happen if these narcisstic anchors can stop thinking about the ratings of their show, and start thinking about protecting this country.

Repeating Awadh?

The royal dynasty of Awadh emerged when the Mughal Empire collapsed. The early days were prosperous. The rulers (Nawab Wazir) had immense power and authority. Awadh flourished with its fertile land and sufficient financial resources.....until the British came.

In 1763, the Battle of Buxer resulted in the British supervising the affairs of the state and thereby reducing the authority of the Nawab. This suited the Nawabs just fine, who relished in the never-ending luxury they afforded with the allowances doled out to them by the British Resident. In return, the Nawabs conceded their power to the British, transforming themselves into weak rulers who were assured by the devious British that the state was still under the control of the Nawabs. This deceit comforted the Nawabs, who couldn't care less to know the truth, and instead were more preoccupied with maintaining their harems and living lavishly.

An exorbitant amount of money was spent on coronation ceremonies, weddings, and irrelevant festivals and worthless pursuits. The Nawabs spent their entire time in the company of women and eunuchs. Shuja'uddola had almost 2000 women from whom he had 25 sons and 22 daughters. Wajid Ali Shah, the last ruler, had 40 sons and 34 daughters. Thus, the growing size of the royal family consequently burdened the economy further. As a result, the British flooded the Nawabs with more allowances, and most of the state's income went directly to the royal family to meet their opulent and extravagant demands. This corruption of mind and morals led to corruption in power and authority. In addition to the allowances they received, the Nawabs heavily taxed the common man in order to grab more money and add to their wealth and fuel their luxurious desires. This, ultimately, forced the majority of society into poverty. But, sadly, the Nawabs were least bothered about the common man and happily lived in the utopia that had been created for them by the British.

The abyss between the rich and the poor created by the economic disparity generated the downfall of Awadh. The common man felt discriminated and collectively the society weakened. The rulers were worthless---mere puppets serving the British interests. So, when the British finally decided to take over completely, nobody rose to defend the state. Wajid Ali Shah simply surrendered and accepted exile. And Awadh along with its pompous and self-absorbed leaders disintegrated and became part of the British territory.

Is this not a mirror image of what is happening in present day Pakistan? Aren't our leaders also serving the interests of external powers? History has constantly shown that whenever leaders of a nation attempt to succeed with assistance from external elements, major concessions are given in exchange---and this transaction always takes place at the cost of the country's interests. This is the reality that we are faced with now. The question is, unlike the people of Awadh, will we rise?

Living Made Easy by Maxim

Not So Sweet

ARY is into the 5th day of its 7-day boycott of sugar.Their promotion ad for the boycott is long and, to a certain extent, convincing. I give them credit for DOING SOMETHING about the problem, instead of churning the issue through discussions and analyses. The way they are encouraging others to join them is also admirable. But I have just one question. Perhaps, I'm playing a devil's advocate when I say this: is this the REAL solution? So, every time they create a shortage of any food item, does that mean we hurl ourselves into a knee-jerk reaction of boycotting that particular item? Then what are we gonna eat?? So, gradually we just stop EATING?? ARY's tagline is: we don't really need that much of sugar to begin with. We can do without it. Really??! I mean I'm with you if you're talking about the 10 cups of tea every Pakistani loves to have with 3 teaspoons of sugar every day.....yeah we can cut back from a health point of view....but jokes aside, what are we really achieving through this boycott?? It's not bringing into light the fact of the matter: sugar is being kept locked up in these mills and withheld intentionally.

Boycotting to me translates into compelling us to live with the problem. "You don't want to give us the sugar, then fine...we don't want it actually to begin with." I just can't accept this logic. This solution, for me, has some major pitfalls. Why should we live with the problems that our supposed ''leaders'' are throwing our way? We've adopted this stance for the last 60+ years. Now's the time to say enough is enough. Why aren't these problems being addressed? Substantial steps need to be taken to address the core of the issue. Simply sitting by and rationalizing that we can do without basic necessities is a solution that is pacifying at best, and misleading at worst. It's a solution that diverts attention from the root cause of the issue. While we sit back and boycott, the ''geniuses'' who created this sugar crisis, remain unaffected. They're not being held accountable for this hoarding. That's what's needed!

These avaricious behemoths, who live on the principles of gluttony and iniquity, should be castigated. The public should demand the release of the hoarded sugar by staging a peaceful protest. Go and engulf one of the thousands of mills and demand the doors be opened. Demand accountability! Will it work? I hope so. Will it get violent? I hope not. But, in my opinion, asserting that you don't need sugar to begin with and showing you suddenly don't care that it's not available, only puts a smile on the faces of these gluttons.

Show us the faces of these mill-owners who aren't even blinking an eye at what they're doing! Rehman Malik and "Khadim-e-Punjab" blabbed 2 months ago about taking strict action against these mill-owners within 24 hours? It's been 2 months and 1440 hours later----where's the strict action?!!

The bigwigs all know who is behind this....so if anyone with the authority of law enforcement has an iota of a conscience, they'd march over there right now, seize the mills, and arrest and imprison these mill-owners. Lack of accountability of actions and consequent punishment is the crux of every crisis that faces us. There's a gross ineptness in both departments. Of course, once upon a time, the CJ had sworn and pledged something to the effect of being there for the people and ensuring their concerns will be addressed. Somehow, it seems, either the CJ is suffering from a bad case of amnesia or he's too preoccupied polishing and shining his medals and awards that have been bestowed upon him by a group of people who probably can't even say his name correctly.

Amidst the bitter, fetid, and vile events unfolding these days.......sugar was the one sweet thing we had left.

Civics 101

I'm not ashamed to admit that in this day and age, I'm a morning person. Yup, you got it! I like to be in bed by 10:30 and I'm up bright and early at 6. Most people reading this, would consider me a bore, a hermit, old-fashioned, and perhaps even go so far as to say that I've got no life. To those of you who do think this---I DON'T NEED TO PROVE ANYTHING!! My life and what I do with it, is my business. And naturally, being one for fairness and equality---your life is YOUR business.

But, things start getting nasty and irritating when you shove your business into mine. Case in point? This very moment: 12:47 am, sitting in the sanctuary of my room, I'm being subjected to listen to the Bombay Rockers, Nadia Ali's "Rapture", and a plethora of those vexing Bollywood songs as they blare thru the speakers the DJ has set up in the house across from mine. The guy across the street is getting married next week, and so, as it has become customary these days, the festivities start a week in advance. And if you happen to be in close proximity to these mentally deranged idiots, who lack complete sense of civility, then you will inevitably be forced to endure their idiocy.

You wanna play songs and dance? Fine by me. Go right ahead! But, at 1 in the morning, please don't turn this into a block party and ruin everyone else's peace and quiet.

They've shut up....may be now I can finally get some shut eye.

Where The Devil Lives

**2 year old girl thrown into a vat of boiling water dies.

Crime: Her father scolded a 10 yr. old boy for hitting him with a cricket ball when he was playing with his friends. The boy ran to his house and told his father, who threatened the girl's father saying he would get back at him for reprimanding his son. The boy's father was arrested and now is out on bail.

**3 year old girl molested and thrown in a gutter.

Crime: Two on-duty cops patrolling a neighborhood, saw some children playing outside and spotted this girl and kidnapped her. Took turns molesting her and when she died, threw her body in a gutter. Parents and neighbors searched for the girl but never found her. The cops returned the next day to patrol the same neighborhood, and the other children, who the girl had been playing with, recognized them and told their parents. Cops were arrested, and led authorities to the gutter where they had dumped the girl's body. The court's ruling: death sentence. The cops are alive, and appealing the verdict.

Is this what this country has come to? The fear of life is ever-present.....lurking and thriving, perhaps, just next door?? How do you begin to rationalize any of this? How do you allow 2 savages to roam freely, while the parents mourn the horrendous and barbaric death of their daughter? A wound deeply gashed into thier lives from which they will never recover. Is this the justice system from which Iftikhar Chaudhry said, that if re-instated, he would bring justice to all and ensure the system fails no one?? The man who rallied thousands behind him to march for him on the streets of this country just so that he could get back on that pedestal of the Supreme Court, now seems the least bothered and could care less. Is it because his interests are now taken care of? So what if the poor and the weak are bulldozed by the mighty and the powerful?

Few days ago Tauseeq Haider interviewed Dr. Enver Sajjad. As is Dr. Enver's usual demeanor--irresistible! You have to listen to the man. The man talks and talks sense. He says things the way they are. No fluff. No sugar coating. The plain, cold, simple truth. And so it came as no surprise when he just slammed the facts on the table and said "....there are only 2 'species' that are rapidly becoming popular these days: actors and anchors. No one remembers the writers and directors any more."

It got me thinking about these anchors he was referring to. And the ones that immediately came to mind were the annoying ones. The ones I watch on TV and wonder how big of a safarish they must have paid to be where they are now. They have no talent whatsoever....no skill of their craft....and except for one qualification: talking (read "talking total bs")---it seems based solely on that and the fact they pulled some major strings to get where they are......hence it had to be a safarish.

1. Ayesha Sana: Please for the love of god, get your nasal problem fixed and stop snorting back your post-nasal drip when you talk to your guests.

2. Shaista Wahidi: Lady, kissing a snake on its mouth on live tv isn't gonna boost your ratings. And please learn to sit!

3. VJ Waqar: You're a wanna-be. Your "ideas" for different shows aren't really worth watching. And by the way, the long hair doesn't do much for you either. Basically the guy tries to make his idiocy under the spotlight appealing. So far, it hasn't worked. Not everyone is Letterman.

4. Some VJ on ATV: Don't know the dude's name...but god he sucks at hosting a show!!! Rarely has a clue as to what he wants to say. And after being on the show pretty much EVERYDAY--still hasn't learned which camera to look into.

5. Sahir Lodhi: I want to like you.....but just can't bring myself to it. You seem to have a good sense of perspective...but then sometimes you say things that make me wonder if the wheels really are turning. I'll give you this much, you're slightly better than your sister. But if you wouldn't try so hard, you might be more pleasant to watch.

6. Hamid Mir: Can't waste my time.

7. Farah Hussain: She's the cold statue that talks for 2 hrs straight in the morning. May be if she brought some human expression and emotion, she would look.......ummm...........human!?

8. Abeel Jawed: Desi blonde.

9. Mubashir Lucman: You not only try too hard, but you also aren't as intelligent as you want your viewers to believe.

What's with the desi mentality?!

Someone please enlighten me. And if you share the same sentiment, then join the club!

But, first, a disclaimer: I'm not on the outside looking in....I'm very much IN and among them--which is why my observation is so pristine and right on the mark. But despite being amongst them, I'm still failing to understand why their mentality is messed up.

Now for the specifics. The "mentality" I'm referring to is this weird vitriol that detonates from them every time you build a certain expectation. And the most common expectation (and for those of you who are wondering the same question as me are then all too familiar with what I'm about to say) is when it comes to the scenario of ''helping''. You know what I'm talking about.....you're not exactly looking for help nor asking for it, but nevertheless they insist they can help you with whatever it is you're going through. And despite the fact that you decline and say "no, it's ok"....they keep insisting. So, in the end, you accept---thinking perhaps it would be a good thing if you got a helping hand. But that's exactly when you've fallen into the trap. When the time comes, the curtains raise, and the drumroll ceases.........there's......nothing. Nada. Zilch. They've either vanished and will say they never remembered that they had offered to help. Or, (and this is the most common reaction) turn things around and throw it back at you saying you're expecting too much out of them. And that is the '' weird vitriol'' I'm talking about. Then, not only are you left without help but now you also stand wondering what the hell just happened. Just moments ago they seemed so amicable and willing, and now you're being accused of asking too much out of them!!??

My bottomline is: why can't we help one another?? what's up with that? what do we lose by helping the other person out? and if we can't help one another, then why do you offer to begin with? why not just say, up front, "hey! ...I don't think I can." ?? no one is gonna take a plunge at you for that! honesty really is the best policy. SO FOR GOD'S SAKE JUST SAY IT! and stop mincing your words!

I only expected something out of you, CUZ YOU INSISTED ON IT. So please just someone explain to me what the hell these desis are up to?

Meanwhile, I think I've learned my lesson one too many times: I'm not trusting desis anymore.

The Day That Means Everything---March 23

As March 23 dawns on Pakistan, the spirit of the Pakistan Resolution awakens once again in all of us. But this March 23, 2009 will be different. It won't be celebrated, as announced by the government. The Armed Forces parade will not be held, and the parade grounds of Islamabad will lie desolate and silent. The thundering beat of the drums and the unison hammering of the military boots onto the cement road as thousands of military men and women march past with contagious patriotic pride will not be seen. How unfortunate and absolutely wrong. And why? This day that resurrects within us our own sense of patriotism is being stifled for no reason at all. Word has it that the recent upheavals in the country have created an environment that is not conducive to celebrate such a day. Well, how come? The lawyers have been restored. Iftikhar Chaudhary got what he wanted--he's back as the CJ. Their so called movement achieved what it set out to do....so shouldn't this be even more reason to celebrate March 23?

I mean if you want to stop a celebration---then Basant should've been the event....not a day that injects within us all a profound patriotism of being Pakistani. In fact, at a time when the country is going through immense geopolitical and economic ups and downs, celebrating March 23 would have rejuvenated us all and strengthened our resilience as a nation. The day is a constant reminder of just how much we have to be thankful for. And yet, it's being taken away from us. And is this going to be a new tradition? Does this mean that from now on March 23 will no longer be celebrated? Is March 16 going to be celebrated now?

Day by day people are coming one step closer to feeling completely hopeless and giving up in face of these harsh times, and what they need are days like March 23 to remind them not to give up and to keep pushing forward. Having a strong sense of national pride is the essence of being a Pakistani. Believing in yourself and what this country stands for is of utmost importance. And March 23 not only helps to foster but also sustains these ideals. And these are not just ideals that are to be read in philosophy books, spoken as cliches, or written as diplomatic phrases......this is who we are! We are a nation of strong-willed individuals with limitless potential and profound resolve. So what if we've had some tough times.....who hasn't? Fact is we're Pakistani and that means, no matter what, we can and do achieve whatever we set out to do. And it was this very spirit and determination that brought together Mohammad Ali Jinnah and the members of the All-India Muslim League at Minto Park in Lahore 69 years ago to move a resolution that was to bring Pakistan into existence. So, we owe everything to March 23, and to be told that we are not celebrating it this year is extremely disturbing.

Much uproar and raucous voices were raised in the past years when Basant was banned. And rightly so. An event that is mostly marred with grief and mourning, instead of joy and jubilation, should be banned indefinitely. But, alas....Lahoris pushed and shoved and yelled and screamed and shouted and nearly had a heart-attack to get this event back. So, last Sunday Lahoris idiotically flew hundreds of colored papers attached to string---an event that has no substance or significance, and which, once again, led to the death of several young children whose throats were slit open from the kite-string or who fell from roof-tops while chasing after kites. And yet not a single voice has been raised to get March 23 back. Why are we becoming so deplorable and careless as a nation? Why are we losing sight of our priorities and realities?

We need March 23 back....at all costs!

5 Things I Learned From Prof. Dr. Haroon Rashid

1. Pray to Allah to increase your faith
2. Pray for good health
3. Pray that you should become a source of help for people
4. Don't gather happiness......spread it
5. Admit your mistakes and say sorry

The Case Of The Real Awam

As the scraggly man threw his shoe at Zardari, I smiled. But, Zardari was not deterred. Luckily, his glasses didn't fall off his face. He maintained his composure and grinned his usual toothy smile, and looked back at this man with his looming eyes....what else could Zardari do? It wasn't really him----it was a poster of Zardari.

The Feb. 25th verdict of the Pakistan Supreme Court declaring the Punjabi brothers, with artifically implanted hair (Nawaz Sharif & Shabaz Sharif), ineligible for elections resulted in roadside theatrics---not new to the Pakistani political scene, however. And of course, let's not forget the contribution by our relentlessly annoying media. The ones who make a whole lot out of nothing at all. The ones who stop us dead in our tracks every hour with their flashing red banners of "Breaking News!". In fact, much of the theatrics that occur as a result of the mediocre events in Pakistan are for the most part initiated by this insanely neurotic media. And so it should come as no surprise, that after the Supreme Court ruling, the dramatic society (read media) donned its costumes and started with the first act.

Their theme and news coverage was aimed at showing the nation how the people had come out on the streets rejecting the Court's verdict. That the awam was distraught and angered by this decision. "Awaam Ka Ihtejaaj!" yelled one reporter. Channel after channel showed live footage of men tearing down posters of PPP's leadership and damaging public property. Hurling their shoes at pictures of Zardari, Gillani, and Benazir and screaming anti-PPP slogans--this awam was revolting. Every news channel showed this awam waving their dandas in the air and setting on fire any and all of public property--a demonstration of their fury (view http://lahore.metblogs.com/). How could the Supreme Court even think of laying a malicious eye on their Sher-e-Punjab? This awam wanted answers! And was not the least bit happy with the outcome of the trial. But, while this manically loaded media showed us live coverage of the awam pulverizing public property and creating havoc through the streets of Lahore, I had to ask myself 'Is this the real awam?!' And the answer is a very sensible and irrefutable NO!

A nation, whose average citizen can barely afford the public transportation fare, and on most days walks 4-5 miles to work--toiling away at a job that hardly pays the monthly expenses, cannot be bothered nor have the time to take part in a protest that serves no substantial purpose to them. Anyone who understands Pakistan knows that the individual of the real awam is consumed by the worries and concerns afflicting his family. He has a family to take care of. In most cases him, his wife, and their 7 kids. With expenses sky-high these days, the average Pakistani is lucky, at best, to find manual labor which only pays daily wage, and yet at the end of the day is still not enough to pay for food, clothing, or medicine. In these kind of dire circumstances do you really think he has the time to run on a rampage across Lahore denouncing a verdict regarding an individual, who feasts on biryani everyday while sitting in his luxurious Raiwind estate flanked by vibrant green lawns and the world's exotic birds??

Does the media really want us to believe that all those men and women, who were protesting outside the Governor House yesterday, were representative of the real awam?? They weren't! And don't get sucked into the lie that they were! I'll tell you who they were: supporters of the party--paid to get out there and run amok. Men and women bribed to come out and take part in these theatrics. This dramatic club enthralls and serves only the purpose of the maniacs behind them, and no one else. And while the brains, behind these nobodies, inject them with colossal momentary temptations, so that they will scream, plunder, and create chaos.....the real awam suffers. Suffers and toils.

Get a Life!

I've had enough of Facebook! And more than that, I've had enough of the people who use it!! Despite the fact that so many have written about their anti-Facebook sentiments....I want to vent my disgust for it as well. And perhaps I wouldn't have cared to write about this if it wasn't for a friend who carelessly commented one day that I was living under a rock. (We weren't close to begin with, so in all honesty I could care less what she thought).

I've embraced everything out there that is 'new' and 'recent'. But, my choice to avoid the Facebook mayhem (yes, it is a mayhem...I'll explain later) is not a result of being backward or rebelling against social trends, but quite simply I don't feel there is an imperative need for me to acquaint with 300 virtual no-bodies and call them "friends" and then sit back and 'poke' one another. As for the mayhem--yes, I believe it is a needless and willful damage of.....privacy. But what I want to know is, why? Why do you want total strangers staring at you and knowing about every detail of your life? Let me translate that into real life: would you be ok if someone came up to you out of nowhere and asked to be your friend and then proceeded to ask you who you were friends with, what you did on Saturday nights, where you work, etc etc. Would it be ok if this person followed you everywhere you went? Common sense demands that you would avoid such a person. Then why put yourself up for this on the internet? And that is essentially what's happening. You've given a horde of people front-row seats to the blow by blow of your life. And the height of this absurdity is that when they get to see or read something that you, in hindsight, wished they hadn't, you begin to freak out. To me, this equates to tearing down the doors and windows of your house so everyone gets a first-hand look......after all, isn't that what you're doing when you 'update your status'?? Especially those who feel compelled to do it literally EVERY MINUTE OF THEIR BREATHING LIFE!!

But back to the users of this online obsession that's turning into madness. My repulsion began when I saw what Facebook was doing to that friend of mine. She developed an urgency equal in magnitude to that of going to the bathroom to pee and not finding an empty stall. She was about to pop! Her impending need to see her Facebook page and that of others needed to be fulfilled instantly it seemed, otherwise, she was pretty much close to passing out. And this is no exaggeration when I say she quite nearly resembled an addict who needed their next shot to maintain their high. So, she had in effect become the Facebook junkie. Once she was logged in and saw who had written on her wall and got to write some of her own comments as well, and saw who was hanging out with who at last night's party, and who did what, only then did relief spread over her face. But, what I found irritating was how out of her nearly 110 friends, she only knew 8....the rest were just people. And how she felt she HAD to know what was going on with everyone else at that very moment or else........!! Why not just pick up the phone and call? (They all live in the same town!) And as for some of the friends she 'kind-of knew but not really well', she took the liberty of commenting on their pictures and looks without discretion. How rude! I mean first of all, you hardly know the person, then you go beyond limits to say whatever you want......but I guess, it does all come around eventually because, quite logically, there are people out there staring at your picture and doing the same! And then of course, there are the pictures and profiles of people you don't even know in person and just met online. Why do you care to know what they're up to when there's every possibility that whatever they're saying and doing could very easily be fake?? And that is my other problem with Facebook: although there may be many accurate profiles, there is also a huge possibility that a lot of those profiles are made-up and you can be anyone you want to be. Which brings me to one of my best friend's comment: Facebook is the sanctuary for the losers and loners out there who had no one to talk to and no place to go. Buddy! I'm beginning to believe you!

Isn't it a lot more fun and interesting to GO OUT and run into potential friends, instead of sitting in front of a phosphorescent screen editing and updating a page all day? Now many will argue, that most members' list of friends is of people they already know.....but I know for a fact that there is a vast majority whose list consists of people they met entirely online and have no clue whatsoever of what these people are like in real life. And to have these people gawk at you, read and comment on what you're doing is creepy, to say the least. Secondly, why is there such a pressure to join? This cult-like attitude is not very appealing. Just because "everyone is on it and so should you" isn't a very convincing reason for me to join in. I'm told "it's a great way to stay in touch".....well, I'm already in touch with the people I need to be in touch with, and we do that just fine through phone and meeting IN PERSON! And that's the other thing: why do I need to re-connect with people from the past? Don't you get it? They're 'people from the past'.....if I wanted to be in touch with them, they'd be people of the present! The fact that they're in the past means I want to keep them there! Not interested in getting back in touch.

My hatred was intensified recently when I read Farhad Manjoo's column in Slate on how joining Facebook is the equivalent of having antiperspirant. Body odor can be a menace, and not having deodorant can put you in a compromising situation; but, not having someone to 'poke' every 10 minutes isn't exactly going to be embarrassing....no matter how urgent the need. Telling me that Facebook is right up there with toothpaste, deodorant and cell phones shows me just how deluded you've all become and you need to get out and breathe in some fresh air! He goes on to say that as more people join Facebook, the more useful it becomes for everyone. Useful? There's email if I need to get in touch with someone on the other side of the world. There are phones too. And if we need to network to find other people for whatever reasons we all come together and do it efficiently. But, this insanity that Facebook is nurturing that you all need to know what the other one is doing AT ALL TIMES is crazy, and that this is the best aid for social interaction---well, not for me! For me, there is nothing useful about Facebook. It's an absolute waste of time on the most useless of social trends. If 'useful' is to be used in the context of Facebook, then I'm sorry to say it can't be done. You're not doing anything useful at all. And don't feed me the crap about how it helps you to be connected with people and find others who you would have never thought of finding.....this can ALL be done if you log off and step outside for just one day. There's no convenience to it either. It's just as 'convenient' to find people and all that mumbo jumbo if you put some effort into it and leave the premise of your couch. Facebook is quite simply fostering the idea of convenience because you 'connect' to people while you sit in your favorite PJs on your comfy chair in the confines of your room. And that is what all these loners have morphed into: hermits!

So while Mark Zuckerberg celebrated his 150 millionth Facebook member on Jan. 8 and marks it as a milestone, I can only say one thing: I'm glad I know the way out of my room and out to the driveway where I get into my car and drive over to the best place in town known for its desserts, and hang out with my friends under the sun enjoying the spring weather, while you facebook junkies sit crammed in that chair fervently typing and clicking on 'View profile'.

And then there were.........14!!!!!!!

Advanced, upgrade, new and improved, hi-tech, state of the art, better than before, etc. are all words used to describe literally every facet of man's life in this 21st century. There is no aspect of our daily routine that does not involve a utility of superior and better standards. As a human race we have progressed and revolutionized nearly every element and component of life on earth. No doubt, in the process we have ruined and destroyed plenty. Global warming, increased CO2 emissions, destruction of animal habitats, extinction of animal species, environmental pollution, deforestation are all dilemmas that did not just slam us in the face overnight. We've progressed in these areas as well. I can safely say no one was anticipating in the 19th century, when the industrial revolution began, that one day the very land we live on and the grass we walk on would give way to landfills.

But for now, I want to focus on the consequences of the "positive" outcomes of man's endeavor to make life better, faster, simpler, easier, convenient, and perhaps more enjoyable. No matter where you look, we have, quiet unpretentiously, outdone ourselves! We've improved nearly EVERYTHING!! This endeavor is clearly evident in any industry you look at: engineering, communication, transportation, agriculture, construction, manufacturing, health, recreation, media, arts, internet, and science---we have created innovations in these fields like never before. And I think the amount of invention and research done in the field of medicine and health-care is remarkable. But as we all know, everything has 2 sides. While we may be benefiting from the facility of better treatments, better medical equipment, better understanding of the human body and illnesses and how to cope with them, we've also in the process started to exploit these innovations. My reference is towards Nadya Suleman and her octuplets. The advent of infertility treatments has become the magical wand that makes a dream come true for innumerable women around the world. But did Dr. Patrick Steptoe and Dr. Robert Edwards (both credited for the world's first test-tube baby in 1978) ever imagine that their hard work, which in the coming years would serve as a substantial guideline for in vitro fertilization, might be exploited and misused? Definitely their contributions and accomplishments, which generated this medical breakthrough, gave renewed hope to millions of women who had problems conceiving, and this is a positive consequence. However, over the past few years we've seen this medical breakthrough not only benefit women suffering from infertility problems, but this procedure has begun to be misused and abused. Furthermore, it has evolved into a profound issue of ethics which questions the very essence of this medical procedure and the rules (or the lack of ??) governing it.

Nadya Suleman claims that as a single child she lived a dysfunctional childhood, and as a result longed to have siblings and a big family. Her grand total of 14 children, according to her, fulfills her desire of that big family she dreamed of as a little girl. Well, she got what she wished for: big family. But she's also faced with plenty that she didn't wish for and seems not to have thought through at all! As the world ''wows'' and celebrates the birth of these 8 babies---bioethicists and normal people like you and me are wondering ''What was she thinking?!!". The answer to that will be revealed on Monday (Feb. 9) when NBC's Ann Curry interviews her. But in the meantime, I'd like to know for myself and ask Suleman a few questions.

She's single, unemployed, and lives with her mom. So far she's not ticking any boxes on my checklist. She insists that once she goes back to college this fall and gets her Master's in counseling she'll be able to provide for all 14 children. Well, sweetheart, what makes you think you're walking out that door?? Don't tell me you plan on forking your kids over to some day-care center while you attend classes! To me this is child abuse at its height. Babies don't just need to be fed, changed, and bathed. They need emotional upbringing as well. Suleman justifies this by proudly announcing that she holds each baby for 45 minutes! Now, I'm a doctor, and this in no way or form makes even the slightest sense. It is absolutely impossible that these children will get adequate parental attention (the father who donated his sperm, is so overwhelmed and has said he'll think of being in these kids' lives when he feels it's "right").

And on top of that she's single. And she feels that's why the world is attacking her. Well, she is partly right......ask a single mom with ONE child and she'll tell you it's a full-time job and is tough to do alone, and here is this 33 year old woman thinking she can handle all 14 by herself?!?! But mostly, the world is also attacking her because she's unemployed. She's hoping her church will help her----does the church know that!?!? Plus, she's hoping her family will pitch in (is this the same family she attributes her 'dysfunctional childhood' to??)---well, her mom has already declared her a ''crazy''---so much for that idea. She's not taking welfare and is adamant on keeping it that way....but I'm sure with the mountain-high pile of book deals and TV shows she's being offered that might be the answer to the financial aspect of this issue.

And although they're not telling us, but I'm sure extreme measures are underway to save these babies' lives. And that brings me to my next question: does she have any idea of the future health implications these babies will face? There's an entire raft of potential health problems and disabilities these children will be inflicted with. And then what will she do? How many days of absence from work will she take to be with her children when one of them is sick? She strongly says that she's doing something that many parents aren't: being with her children---well, just being with them isn't gonna pay for their pediatric follow-ups, diapers, bibs, high chairs, baby formula. And how sure are you that you'll be with them as much as you say you will be? I'm doing the math: 14 kids, 24 hours.......never mind!

No doubt there are more questions to be asked than this, but I'm just wondering about the most pertinent of issues Suleman will be faced with in the coming days. But one last question I have is this, what prompted her to do this? I'm not buying her story that she wanted a "big family"---anyone in her sane mind would have realized that dream and stopped at 6---apparently 6 for her wasn't big enough. So is she a spin-off of Angelina Jolie (have you noticed the uncanny similarity in appearance between the two?) or is she trying to be the next Camille Geraldi (a heroic woman who adopted 15 children with Down Syndrome)?? First of all, Suleman I have to break it to you---you can't be Jolie---why? Because #1. the woman has a JOB!!!!!!!!! Secondly, you can't be Geraldi either...because she was married--so there were 2 of them taking care of the kids (the way it should be!). Plus this woman had baby-raising down to a science! ('60 Minutes' did a story on her in 1991). So that leaves me with one answer and one answer alone: you're doing this for the sensationalism. And that's fine by me, because as a taxpayer I don't want my money paying for your unreasonable decisions and the circus you've got going on---I'm all the more glad that you'll be extracting it from those book deals and TV shows. But I will say this, I won't be amazed if 10-15 years from now we hear one or more of your children say they lived a dysfunctional and difficult childhood---that's when we'll know things went full circle!