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AIBU?

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Original poster

Fasting and ability to work

224 replies

ChipsOnChips · 20/06/2015 07:09

Yesterday DC was booked to have an operation - not massively complex but not minor either. The surgery was scheduled for late afternoon and would have taken some time.

Prior to the surgery the dr visited us and it became apparant they were fasting. I felt very uncomfortable about the op going ahead and very conflicted that I felt uncomfortable.

Was I being unreasonable to be concerned?

OP posts:
umiaisha · 21/06/2015 10:44

Mistress - I haven't converted and have never felt any pressure from him or his family to do so. 2 of our 3 children go to a Church of England school and he doesn't fast, so no obligation for me to do so. His family were very devout when he was growing up and he remembers the struggle of the fast and feeling so ill from it so won't put himself or the kids through it. That said I wouldn't allow my kids to fast, unless of course they were old enough to make that decision for themselves. We am not promoting any religion in particular to them, they occasionally go to church with my family/school, celebrate eid, go to the gurdwara with some Indian relatives (they love the food they put on) and my daughter was a bridesmaid at my Jewish best friends wedding (ditto with pesach goodies!)

It is awkward having to explain yourselves to family/friends when you aren't fasting though!

xiaozhu · 21/06/2015 10:46

I live in the Middle East. It's true that working hours are shorter during Ramadan and people drive crazily.

But people doing things like brain surgery aren't required to fast on those days if they feel it will impair their working abilities. They can make up missed fast days another time. So no need to worry.

Teacup246 · 21/06/2015 11:09

Something very odd going on at mn these days

Yes it happens every Ramadan

ChickenLaVidaLoca · 21/06/2015 11:53

There are seriously people who don't know you have to watch yourself on the roads over Christmas? How worrying.

Anyway, whether Allah will or will not protect the fastng and prevent the usual bodily processes from occcurring (forgive me for not being partiularly reassured by that, he doesn't appear to be doing a brilliant job of it on the roads in Dubai) it is a fact that in most Muslim countries, working days are shorter and there are worries about more road accidents. Now, there could be three reasons for this:

a) It could all be a remarkable coincidence.

b) The people in Muslim countries could be silly and just make these alterations for the fun of it, or because they enjoy disruption.

c) The people in Muslim countries understand what happens during Ramadan, and that some people cope much better with fasting than others, and are intelligent enough to make amendments to try and benefit their societies.

I tend towards option c) myself. Those who don't, I hope you're in the option a) camp because option b) is just insulting.

OP, I think we need to know what flavour the sweet was and where you bought it from. Also what colour pants you were wearing.

Teacup246 · 21/06/2015 12:16

www.mycheapcarinsurance.co.uk/2013/11/car-accidents-increase-leading-up-to-christmas.php

Bloody hell, look at the increase in car accidents leading up to Christmas even with eating and drinking

Guess having food and drink is no protection

LotusLight · 21/06/2015 12:18

You have this the wrong way round. It is the 90% of the population who stuff their faces with junk food all day long on a continuous loop who work less well as they are bloated, fat and sleepy!

If you don't eat you work better and are brighter and faster. You want to be choosing the Muslim surgeon not the other way round.

NewFlipFlops · 21/06/2015 12:28

There is a happy medium practised by non-woo and non-junkie people which is just staying hydrated and eating what you fancy when you're hungry.

For my operation or flight etc I'd like the ability to specify one of these, please.

Teacup246 · 21/06/2015 12:30

You think eating and drinking guarantees safety?

Sigh....

Teacup246 · 21/06/2015 12:32

Surgeons don't tell you that they are hungover by the way, they just go in and operate

I saw the idiot hungover surgeons who slept on the floor all night just get into scrubs. Glad I wasn't being operated on that day

NewFlipFlops · 21/06/2015 12:35

No, of course I don't. There are no guarantees in life. I just found LotusLight's opinion a little extreme (as per).

I'd also like it to be law that depressed pilots got reported to their employers and taken off duty.

I'm in favour of improving one's chances in life and were it my DC I would have the op rescheduled without worrying about the doctor's feelings.

Signlake · 21/06/2015 12:46

I saw the idiot hungover surgeons who slept on the floor all night just get into scrubs. Glad I wasn't being operated on that day

Isn't it the responsibility of other staff members to report thing like this?

Hmm
ChickenLaVidaLoca · 21/06/2015 12:47

Who on earth has said that eating and drinking guarantees safety teacup? That's the stupidest thing you've posted since your claim that people can only have opinions on things they've experienced themselves. Which is why, of course, all the top oncologists are cancer survivors. You can't be an IVF doctor if you're not infertile. That type of thing. I mean, do you imagine you're saying anything revelatory by pointing out that things people eat and drink can also impair their ability to function? Do you think the fact that eg people might be sleepy after a 5 course meal means there couldn't possibly be any dangers to fasting? Because that's not really the way it works. It's not an either/or.

I'm glad you're now aware that there are more road accidents around Christmas though, it should help keep you and yours safer if you know you need to be particularly careful. Blimey, it's almost as though what people eat and drink can have an effect on their behaviour isn't it!

Signlake · 21/06/2015 12:49

Also I'm so shocked that the OP didn't raise her concerns before the operation because she might sound racist! If I was worried, my child wouldn't have been in the operating room. Simple as. Though I'm not surprised she was concerned about appearing racist with some of the responses on this thread. Surely it's understandable why the OP was concerned?

Teacup246 · 21/06/2015 12:50

Isn't it the responsibility of other staff members to report thing like this?

You would think so, but there is a different culture when working with surgeons. They just thought it was funny, some of them would be connected up to drips because they were so hungover

Then off they went to operate Hmm

Teacup246 · 21/06/2015 12:52

I'm glad you're now aware that there are more road accidents around Christmas though

I was aware anyway Grin

Watch out for those drunk drivers won't you, it's the same every Christmas, getting pissed and then driving

Signlake · 21/06/2015 12:55

Then off they went to operate

Absolutely disgusting. If I was in the profession I would not have been quiet if I saw this going on. If it wasn't taken seriously, I'd go as far as speaking to the family before the operation went ahead. I could not have something like that on my conscience

Whether it's drug/alcohol consumption, extreme tiredness or fasting, there needs to be measures in place to make sure patients are kept safe. The same goes for other similar professions

ChickenLaVidaLoca · 21/06/2015 12:56

I always do teacup. Because I know that people's eating and drinking habits can have an impact on their behaviour. And if I ever visit Dubai during Ramadan, I'll be careful too.

Meanwhile, news just in, drinking too much water can kill you. So that must mean that dying of thirst can't possibly be a thing. Also, sometimes people have severe allergic reactions to foodstuffs which can be dangerous. Best be safe and not eat anything at all. It is literally impossible that, if eating or drinking might be dangerous, not eating or drinking could also pose risks.

Teacup246 · 21/06/2015 13:01

Best be safe and not eat anything at all

Yes good advice, I think you should do that

ChickenLaVidaLoca · 21/06/2015 13:05

I think you should tell us why Muslim countries reduce the working day during Ramadan, but we can't always get what we want.

Teacup246 · 21/06/2015 13:11

Don't know, why don't you ask them? I do the same hours as I usually do, don't ask for time off or any reduction in hours

ChickenLaVidaLoca · 21/06/2015 13:18

That's nice dear. I'm more interested in hearing what you think about it, though. You have the sort of razor sharp mind that dismisses the possibility of, for example, a judge sentencing a murderer if she's never killed anyone herself, so I think your response is going to be the more entertaining of the two.

Teacup246 · 21/06/2015 13:20

Look to yourself if you want entertainment dear

ChickenLaVidaLoca · 21/06/2015 13:23

Certainly my smackdowns and skewerings of your logic fails are entertaining, it's sweet of you to say so. You flatter me though, a lot of people have owned you on this thread and they deserve to be mentioned too. Swiggityswoogity was excellent, as was newflipflops.

EssexMummy123 · 21/06/2015 13:33

Last year I was in the same team as two fasting muslins - they constantly complained about the temperature in the room being cold when the other dozen or so people were hot, their productivity was on the floor, they could barely stay awake - in fact i think one of them did nod off a couple of times and one of them ended up ill and eating anyway - obviously two is a small sample size and i'm not saying that's likely to be the same for everyone but just what I observed last year.

Teacup246 · 21/06/2015 13:35

Essexmummy yes excellent observations there

I could share quite a few about people coming in with hangovers, and the sample size is a heck of a lot bigger than two!