1 year ago, I wrote this article : https://pagalavan.com/2011/01/02/for-future-doctors-what-if/. It is about what happens if you quit housemanship. Recently I came across a blog of a houseman who I presume has resigned as a doctor due to reasons mentioned in his blog : http://chroniclesofaloner.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/a-letter-to-the-dg/
At the same time, he has also written some suggestion of what you can do if you quit housemanship http://chroniclesofaloner.wordpress.com/2012/01/22/life-after-medicine/. I found it quite interesting and decided to mention it in my blog.
As for his reasons for quitting housemanship, I have been saying it all the while that medicine is not about having good life. Recently, I received an email from a houseman who is thinking about quitting medicine. This is what she wrote:
“Despite financial constrain, I borrowed almost 200k from various place, worked part-time in fast food shops and do a few odd jobs to earn money, to complete the mission which i have started. I studied day and night and obtained decent results to work as a doctor in Malaysia. I came to Malaysia with a lot of dreams. Good job, good money and good life. I didn’t begin my job properly. Because, i’m confuse with many things. What i learn partially different than what I am doing. I am trying to learn. But they are not giving me space to grow. Money doesn’t matter anymore. My life has gone. Now, because of these unethical educated bullies, i have lost my confidence, self-esteem and dignity in front of a lot of people. I can earn money anywhere. But not my LIFE. I scared and worried that I will be mentally ill through the torture that I am going through at hospital. I might be just one of the victims. But, still I am. Enough is Enough. Unless the system is reviewed and properly structured, i bet more mentally and emotionally ill doctors will be produced. Others can name me anything. But they can never feel, what i does deep within me. This is definitely not part and parcel of doctors life. DOCTORS don’t deserves this humiliation. They deserve better treatment. Professional must go through professional and ethical training. In short, we want doc’s Life and not dog’s Life. ”
I told her that the biggest mistake she made is thinking that she is going to have “Good job, good money and good life” as a doctor. That never happens! If you go back to all my postings since 2010 under For Future Doctors series, I have constantly said that if you are doing medicine for these reasons, you will definitely be frustrated. Whether there are seniors who are bullies or not, the job is tough and there is no such thing as good life. The shift duties has definitely reduced the workload but not responsibility. Your responsibility increases as you go higher in medical field. I told her that I work 24hrs a day and 7 days a week single-handedly. How can I handle this ? because I have gone thru tougher times before! Taking huge loans is not a good idea either!
Pagalavan's Avatar 