Dr. B.D.J. de Silva - the unorthodox physician

Once upon a time, Dr. Silva asked the question from Dr. D.J. Liyanage, Sir, What is ADT?

Dr. D.J. Liyanage laughed and said "Dr. Silva that is Any Damn Thing and proceeded to tell him 80 per cent or more of the diseases are SLD (Self Limiting Diseases) and the treatment for which is Any Damn Thing (ADT).

It was the first lesson and advice Dr. Silva received from his Consultant Dr. D.J.T. Liyanage, while he was Acting House Officer for Dr. Liyanage in early 1949 at the General Hospital, Colombo.

From that day onwards Dr. Silva followed and practised the good old method of "Rational Prescribing". It was defined by Silverman as "Ordering the right drug for the right patient at the right time and in the right amount with due consideration of cost".

Dr. Silva referred to here, is none other than Dr. B.D.J. de Silva of Maharagama.

Dr. B.D.J. de Silva, passed away on June 9, 2007 and his second death anniversary fell this week. It is my duty and privilege to put on record some facts on him. The vacuum he had created in Maharagama will not be able to be filled forever.

He studied at S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia. After passing the London Matriculation in 1941 and the Pre-medical Course, he joined the Ceylon Medical College. He passed out with honours at the final MBBS with a distinction in Forensic Medicine.

He had the opportunity to join the faculty staff, but instead he joined the Government Service. In 1952, he resigned from Government service and started private practice in Maharagama.

During the 50s Maharagama was a quiet rural area, with less facilities no electricity and proper roads. He was the only family physician in Maharagama at that time.

He has treated four to five generations in the same family. He treated patients day and night. It was very difficult to find a family which he has not treated.

His patients could be found anywhere in Sri Lanka or perhaps in any corner of the world. He was a doctor par excellence.

His doctor-patient relationship, diagnostic skills and medicare were excellent. He treated a large number of patients and cured them.

His fees were minimal and most of the time he never charged the poor patients. He treated the clergy belonging to any religion free.

In 2002, he completed 50 years of service to the nation. Patients during his time believed that even if he prescribed a bottle of water it would cure the patient which proved how the doctor-patient relationship truly existed. Most of the time he refrained from giving medicine and the patient was asked to drink Koththamalli. He was a doctor who prescribed very few drugs and never burdened his patients, rich or poor, recommending expensive drugs.

He was loved by his townsmen, from all walks of life, the grand old man of Maharagama, a medical practitioner over 50 years service to the nation, who followed the Hippocratic Oath, to the last letter.

May you attain Nibbana!

-Varna D.