PREFACE: MUSINGS OF A HOUSEMAN

The last one and a half years of internship was indeed the toughest, if not the most trying and frustrating times of my life.

Odd working hours, harsh and cruel working environments, non – forgiving and demanding bosses (including patients) were the norm.

As medical students we were all taught and lectured about compassion and patience. And about how a patient doesn’t care about how much we know, but would rather have us care for them. We were thought ethics and the values of what and who constitutes a good doctor.

But working life is a harsh reality from what were thought in medical schools. It is difficult to expect us to be compassionate when little were shown to us. A houseman function not just as a junior doctor, but at times also as a staff nurse, an attendant, a lab technician and most often than not as a counsellor, lending a helping hand and ear to our patients, and at times to our colleagues in need.

Some say that medical ethics were created by those sitting on a higher ground, and intend to create uniformity in regards to doctor – patient interaction. Whilst it makes an interesting subject to learn and debate, it is a different matter all together in real life. In the classroom ethics were thought in vacuum, void of any interruptions and intrusions of politics. But in real life, apart from being a ‘guideline’, it is also our commandment, at times practice as an art, which is mixed and interspersed with politics and complex human personality.

I wrote these articles as a houseman. It was a way out to express my frustration in regards to the various red tapes, bureaucracy, and hypocrisy that has tarnished my profession, and impede my duty and function as a doctor.

The impediment can also be in the form of a humiliation.

There are many graduating doctors every year. But somehow the numbers in government service is still in wanting. A mechanism to plug the leak is therefore necessary. Not to mention a system to weed out those who do not have what it takes to be a doctor in the first place.

We need quality doctors. Not quantity and I assume the Health Ministry is with me on this stand.

Just like we need good doctors, we need good leaders too. We need selfless leaders who work for their constituents and not for themselves. Every day I try to read as many newspapers as I can to feel the nation’s pulse and update myself with the going on in this country.

Most of my friends say they hate politics. The truth is we do not hate politics because our life is immersed in it. We use politics at work, at home, relationships with friends and families but few realise them. What we hate are politicians who patronize our intelligence by bluffing us regarding our state of affairs, and expect us to believe everything they say. We hate the way they control the media and use it as a tool to propagate their agenda at the same time limiting opposing views and sources that they deem a threat to their grip of this nation.

We hate the wastage of funds that was used to bail out so many of failed projects and how family members’ i.e. in laws benefit from them holding office. One was actually declared the youngest unemployed millionaire in Malaysia. He may be very intelligent and smart but ironically, his wealth jumped drastically after his ‘in law’ hold office.

Within these pages, I opined about politics and the state of our country. I couldn’t resist as it is one of my passion. The views expressed are solely mine, of course. But as a note, I don’t think we should all give up on politics simply because politicians demean our intelligence. Instead we should learn and keep abreast on it because this is our country and we’ll inherit it in future. We have to know what is wrong before we can correct it later.

My generation are the future leaders whether we like it or not, and whether we’re ready or not. Given a choice I say we better like it and be ready for it when the time comes.

I dedicate this blog to everyone in and out of the medical field. My writings are mostly circled around the observations I’ve made in life.

To all house officers, I hope you know that you’re not alone in this part of our rewarding career. Hold on tight and I promise you that things will only get better day after day. Understand that this is a learning curve, so learn as much as you can. But do not mistake this as a green light to get bullied. Stand tall and love yourself because no one else will do that for you.

Hold on to all the compassion and ideals you have that made you a doctor in the first place. Use it as a torch to guide you through some of the darkest hours of your career.

Do not let anyone take that torch away.

And to all readers, I hope you’ll catch a small glimpse of what the life of a houseman is all about. I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing this blog. Bear in mind that these housemen are the future specialists and consultants that will be looking after your children and grandchildren in their moments of illness and need.

Thank you. Good luck and god speed.