Index title:  EESTONILO’s MAR [06-02]

MAR Title: The Honor of Being a Doctor

Date of  medical observation: April, 2003

NARRATION 

            It was summer and nearing election.  I was one of the interns who were being forced to join a MEDICAL MISSION. I wasn’t really enthusiastic about the project since I was looking forward to a day of rest and relaxation. Besides that, many of my co-interns were not going as well. On the day of the event, I woke up with the dilemma of attending or skipping the affair. I have no idea what force of nature compelled me, but I found myself ending up at the hospital to join.           

            My day was indeed getting brighter – after waiting for one hour for somebody to show up, I had 2 other colleagues with me. We are supposed to be 10 – at least! On the way to our designated area of duty, I was beginning to question my earlier motion of joining. I felt I made a wrong move. I cannot recall how many times I had asked the organizer who invited us and how many patients were expecting us there. And each time, we paid no attention to her answers. The trip took us 3 hours to complete. 

            The sight shocked me, we set foot onto a community welcoming us with a banner made out of old newspaper and a band playing along. They were indeed in a festive mood, not glamorous, but warm smiles were welcoming us anyway. I looked around and saw almost whole population of about 200 families signed up!  We immediately started the medical mission…to cut the story short, we have not even accomplished giving consult to half of the population who signed up!  We did hear some disappointments and saw many sad faces. 

            I was about to conclude that the day was tiring as well as unproductive, so little time and so much to do. That was when I noted a group edging towards us with vegetables and fruits.  Many were still joining them. Upon reaching us, they handed out their gifts, one of them said “ Dok, dalhin po ninyo ang mga ito! Pasasalamat po namin sa kagandahang loob ninyong puntahan kami. Salamat naman po at nadalaw nyo kmi.” We left with gladness and wished we could have done more.   

INSIGHT (Physical, Psychosocial, Ethical) (Discovery, Stimulus, Reinforcement)

     I had mixed feelings after that faithful day. I realized that these people don’t have much, yet took effort to show their gratitude. On the way back from our trip, I can’t help but feel fulfilled and at the same time ashamed on how I have handled the day. Fulfilled in knowing that there are still those who are genuinely thankful of our efforts as doctors. Ashamed that at the very start, I was thinking that my time will be wasted. I was wrong, I was again reminded of how privileged we are as doctors, time spent with a patient is a time well spent. We are given the chance to serve as healers, and because not everyone is given such an honor, we are blessed . Many still look up to us and expect us to lend a hand. From then on I’ve tried my best to live up to that reverence. 

”You must give time to your fellow men,  do something for others – something  for which you get no other compensation but the privilege of doing it.”