Silent agonies suffered by overworked doctors May 05: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLENTY has been said about the misery patients undergo in public hospitals. I would like to share our silent agonies as house officers (HO). HOs in most hospitals work Monday to Sunday, 7am to 9pm, including public holidays. If and when we need a break, we are allowed to take leave, from the nine days provided every four months (a total of 30 days per year). And if we fall sick and require medical leave, it is deducted from our nine days of leave. When we are on call, we work throughout the night, clocking up to 38 hours continuously. In some cases, HOs have worked two calls in a row, totalling 62 hours non-stop. HOs are the front-liners. We see patients first when they are admitted. We see them first when they need assistance in the ward. And most importantly, we see them first when they collapse. Now, wouldn't you want a person fully awake and capable of sound judgment when trying to resuscitate your loved one? Why do we lament? Lack of manpower is no longer a problem as housemanship is for two years, compared to one year previously. Has anyone thought of shifts? Could it be considered for doctors? DR Y. Seremban

Housemanship has always been a time of intense stress. It is a time when all previous perceptions of what a doctor is, becomes rapidly extinguished. It is the lowest hieriachy in the medical field. It is a time when one can start doubting if medicine was indeed the right choice.

Housemans are expected to go through busy night calls without sleep and yet having to perform well the following day. There is also hardly any camaraderie at times between the specialists, registrars,medical officers and housemans. Thus, housemans can be ridiculed in full view of patients. It takes away all self esteem.

It is a process that can be humbling. No doubt , some may argue that it is a necessary process for training good doctors. However, working conditions are pathetic. Call rooms are poorly furnished and the beds uncomfortable. Food is usually not provided and even if it is, they taste horrible. Long working hours which defies humanity is common.

Starting pay is $1713. This surely does not commensurate with the working hours put in and the sacrifices that have been made during this period. It is during this time that most doctors decide that public service is not for them. The Government it seems have forgotten their plight.

It probably does not end there either. After your housemanship, doctors still cannot decide where they would like to go. On most occasions, it seems that placement of doctors are done solely to frustrate them. Any attempts at asking for a reconsideration will be given a cold shoulder. You are still pretty much on your own.

It is a journey that i am still going through. It remains an unfinished chapter. The ending in the distant horizon. Some say doctors are a priviledged lot in society. Perhaps only for those not in government service.