Indexing Title: NALUDINOs Medical Anecdotal Report [06-06]

MAR Title: Becoming a better doctor

Date of Medical Observation: 2003

Narration:

I was just a first year resident then. Without much experience, my principles would sometimes waver when put into question. There are times however, when a person would have to put his foot down and draw the line. This will be one of those times.

I was then at the surgery ward, post-duty status, two men approached me. They introduced themselves. They were very polite, too polite. As if in spy movies, they asked if they could talk to me in private. Wary of being put in an awkward situation, I still obliged.

When we were alone, they showed me a medical certificate. It was a medical certificate of a patient I saw at the emergency room. Aside from the description of the multiple injuries of the patient, it read, “positive alcoholic breath.”

The patient was a company driver. He was on duty at the time of the accident. They were insisting that I made a mistake declaring the patient had alcoholic breath. Somehow I was able to remember the case from the ER and denied making a mistake. They were very insistent. I told them that to settle this we will have to look at the ER chart. The chart revealed that I did not make any mistake as they were claiming.

That is when their disposition changed. They were now begging me to change the chart and the certificate. They were supposed to collect a sum of money from the insurance of the vehicle but were able to do so because of the report of alcoholic breath. I told them of the legal repercussions if I did so and flatly refused.

Suddenly one of them said, “Magkano ba? Magkano ba gusto mo doc?” I was taken aback. Did they really think I was demanding some sort of bribe? I could not believe that this man would think I would sacrifice everything I worked hard for. I may not be the richest man on this planet, but I do have self-respect. This man is slime, I told myself. I pulled out all the stops. I told them, aside from other things, that my business with them is finished, to get out of my sight or I might be forced to report them to the authorities

Insights (Physical, Psychosocial, Ethical) (Discovery, Stimulus, Reinforcements):

As doctors we are exposed to different kinds of people. Whether we like the experience or not, we can’t deny that it helps in building our character. Ultimately, it is how we handle these challenges that define us. I would like to hold on to the belief that doctors are the epitome of good character. A good friend, who hails from a family of doctors, once told me, previously in their province, two professions were held in regard, the teacher and the doctor. Sadly he says this no longer holds true for the doctors. Whatever the culprit for the decline in their prestige, it is happening. If not, why then did this man think I would take part in his crime?

We are doctors. We do help people. Maybe it is time we also help ourselves. We must be an example of good character. This can be achieved though imbibing the core values of our department:

Respect for human lives and human being 

Honesty and sincerity 

Ethics and integrity 

Professionalism 

Continual improvement to achieve quality and excellence 

Teamwork 

Social consciousness 

These may not be the ultimate solutions but by trying to achieve the above, we are on our way to becoming a better person, a better doctor and a better member of the society.