A man who looked like he was in his early 60s pushed his mother into my surgical clinic. The mother, who was in her 80s, was frail and her hair was not combed properly. What struck me was that the son looked as tired as the mother. There was a certain anxiety that surrounded this man, and it was evident to me that he was sincere in searching for answers.

Madam M had been referred to my surgical clinic for chronic constipation and consideration for endoscopy. Even without looking at the clinical notes, I could anticipate that she would have multiple documented medical problems and that she would not be a stranger to the hospital systems.