An unusual patient in a Buddhist family in Sri Lanka

Abstract

When Arjuna, my neighbour, bought his latest family member, it led to a personal an d professional life-changing experience for me. The one who fell ill and became my patient, was a cow. The story unfolds as I struggle to find my place as a family physician in such a situation. The way the family and community cared for our family-cow-patient was just amazing ... actually better than patients are sometimes cared for in our hospital. It also bound us all together as one, even in the grave. The story illustrates the importance of relationships, aspects of the Buddhist was of thinking and living the important role animal can play in a family's life. Family physicians therefore need to see animals (as family members) as their patients too. Death is also looked at in a new way.