The Gatal Specialist

Something hilarious happened yesterday during the geriatric ward rounds. One of our elderly male patient (he is 80+) registered a drop in his Hemoglobin count on routine blood investigation. We wanted to know if he was passing blood out through his intestine and the fastest way to do it was to do a rectal digital examination.

So we popped the question at him, "Uncle, can we examine your back?"; to which he replied "Sure, do anything you want. After all you all are the experts".

My specialist was a little miffed that she is now known (at least to this patient) to be an expert in rectal examination! Anyhow, she put on a pair of surgical gloves while we positioned the patient.

The rectal examination isn't exactly a very pleasant experience (at least for most people I know). And so he 'oohed and aahed' in pain during the quick procedure. Thankfully there was no evidence of a bleed in the intestine.

While my specialist walked off to dispose the gloves and wash up, the patient turned to us and said one single word: "Gatal"!!! :-) My specialist walked in just as he mentioned that word! She didn't know whether to laugh or to feel insulted. One moment she was an expert in the rectum, the next she was labelled 'gatal'!!

The word 'gatal' is a malay word which can be taken to mean just an 'itch' or it may be used to insinuate that a person is horny or even lustful. It was truly hilarious!

On the other hand we do have some really gatal patients. Opposite the patient above was another man (we sent him home this morning). When my House Officer (a lady) was inserting the urinary catheter into his penis a while ago (to allow continuous drainage as well as for monitoring the urine output); he remarked during the procedure that it was "sungguh sedap" (so pleasurable)!!! Now that is one gatal fellow! Little wonder he has 11 children! :-)