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Just when I thought I had enough of writing about our “world class” education, here comes the joke of the year. Since yesterday, the cyberworld has been loaded with the word “listen”. It was such an entertaining video but such a tragic incident for our universities. When this video first appeared in my Facebook page yesterday, I was not totally shocked with what they were doing to the students but what amused me was the way the panelist responded. The conversation really shows who had brains and who was shooting all over the place without any knowledge, even though she claim she is a degree holder! What surprises me even further is the fact that most of the students who were listening probably got no clue of what was happening. They seem to be clapping their hands all over the place!! What type of university students are we producing? Well, I think I had talked about this so many times before. Our universities and the education system as a whole, has gone to the dogs !

These type of programs happens in all universities. It is a form of brainwashing forums aka BTN type “boot camps”. Anyone who cares to read about Hitler and the Nazis will find a lot of similarities. For those who do not know who Hitler was, please go and read. Our history books are good for nothing nowadays. Current generation do not even know anything about world history and who is Gandhi, Napoleon, Abraham Lincoln, Stalin etc etc. That’s how well our education system has “evolved”!

Following the video, there were some interesting parodies that were made within one day. I must say, Malaysians are good at this for sure. Namewee came up with this and another interesting dance remix here is a good watch. It is a national shame! The video is now being viewed by the whole world and it clearly shows what is happening in our universities. Universities are supposed to develop critical thinking, employable, knowledgeable graduates. Instead, we are producing “katak bawah tempurung” graduates who get a shock of their life when they enter working life. In my New Year 2013 post, I mentioned what is being distributed among Standard 2 students. So, together with this new video above, I am sure anyone can guess what kind of education system we are having. Whatever blueprint that our Education Minister wants to introduce will not change anything as long as the education system is politicised. Education should be left with the academics and politicians should never get involved. Unfortunately the “brain-washed” generations are now “brain-washing” the current generations. I admire the courage and “guts” that this girl Bawani had for coming up and giving her view. I understand that she is a 2nd year law student.

This would become one of the best “comical” video for this year. What an introduction to year 2013! I still remember the “correct, correct, correct” video before the 2008 General Election. For 2013 General Election, we have “listen, listen, listen” video………………… Lastly, the post below was taken from Facebook. Laughter is the best Medicine………………

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Since I started this blog almost 3 years ago, one of the commonest questions I get asked from budding doctors is how to become a Neurosurgeon and Cardiothoracic surgeon. I have answered these questions many times in this blog but it keep being asked again and again. I am really not sure why most budding doctors only have these 2 specialties in their mind. Do they really know what these 2 specialties is all about or are they being carried away with what is portrayed in the TV programs? Many feel that these 2 specialties are the top most medical specialty, which comes with glamour, popularity and money.  Before I talk about the above topic, let me elaborate a little about what these jobs are all about.

In my entire batch of 180 graduates, only 1 became a Cardiothoracic surgeon and none became a neurosurgeon. Why?  It is always better to decide on what speciality you want to do after you start to work. I had many colleagues and friends who wanted to become this and that but ended up doing something else, many even resigned from medical field. Things will change along the way. Only when you get yourself into the working life, you will realize what medicine is all about. Also don’t forget married life and earning money for a living. You can’t be depending on your parent’s money anymore unless you come from a very rich family.

Not everyone can become a Cardiothoracic surgeon. That’s the reason why you don’t see many, out there. It is a very high-risk job and one of the most challenging surgical fields. You need good hands and master various techniques. Furthermore, with advancing techniques applied by cardiologist with various new stents, the need for cardiothoracic surgeons is declining. The entire state of Johor has only 1 Cardiothoracic surgeon in private sector because that’s all you need. There are about 3 in the state government hospital.  Most private hospital will only need about 1-2 Cardiothoracic surgeons. I also know a few “so-called” Cardiothoracic surgeons who can’t do any proper surgeries.  That’s the reason they remain in government service or in private medical colleges, doing teaching. They do not have the skills to become one but decided to do it anyway!! Probably, the glamour of being called a Cardiothoracic Surgeon is good enough for them. I also know of some cardiothoracic surgeons who have high morbidity and mortality, some even close to 50% mortality rate.

Somewhere in this blog, there was once a comment that claims that his/her relative who is a Cardiothoracic surgeon in a private hospital is earning close to RM 200K/month.  It seems many of these budding doctors are only looking at the money rather than the quality of life, skills and the risk involved. The earning capacity can be high but in order for you to earn that amount of money, you need to do at least 1 cardiac bypass surgery every other day. This means that you will be in the hospital for 24hrs/day and 7 days a week. You practically got no life and you will hardly see your children if you do have any. The stress level is extremely high. The same amount of time in any business will yield you the same amount of money.  The day you stop operating (e.g: met with accident or illness), your income is zero and no guarantee that you can come back and do surgeries like before!  Imagine if you fracture your forearm etc.

Now, let me tell you the pathway to become a Cardiothoracic Surgeon after graduating as a doctor:

1)   2 years Housemanship

2)   2-3 years of Medical Officer (assuming you get your Master’s on first try)

3)   4 years of Master’s in Surgery

4)   6 month’s gazettement process

5)   1-2 years of waiting period

6)   4 years Cardiothoracic subspeciality training

7)   at least another 5 years of experience, assuming you have done about 500 CABG surgeries and competent enough to go out to private sector and perform surgeries without any help from superiors.

This basically means that you will need about 15-20 years of government service and training before being able to be competent enough to perform surgeries on your own. When I first told this to a budding doctor, who has not even gone into medical school, she got a shock of her life. She admitted that she never realized that it was that long. Many are still clueless of the pathway, assuming that they can become a Cardiothoracic surgeon immediately after graduating. Again, don’t forget your married life, children etc.

By now, I am sure you know why there are not many of them out there. It is a difficult field, which need a considerable amount of skills and training. Not everyone can become a Cardiothoracic surgeon ………………. unlike our doctors that are being produced by our grandiose medical schools……………….

Next, pathway to Neurosurgery…………………

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2012 was a year with a lot of surprises and sadness for the field of medicine. In my various articles published in this blog, I had mentioned the challenges that future and current doctors will and are facing. I had given a summary yesterday about the performance of this blog for 2012. It had almost 520 000 views last year with the highest views per day was 4 887 on 25th March. Every year, my peak is always in March. Anyone can guess why?  The answer: that’s when the SPM results are announced. Since I started this blog in January 2010, I always see a sudden increase of viewers to my blog about 2-3 days after the SPM results are announced. I hope I have given the budding doctors the true reality of the field of medicine. However, I always feel that many do not believe what I say. I still receive emails from many young doctors asking me how to quit medicine. They realised it too late! Anyway, I hope my total blog views will reach 1Billion mark by March/April this year (893 695 currently). Some of the articles that I wrote in September 2010 such as “General Misconception of being a doctor” and ” Housemanship, Medical officer and Postgraduate training” are still being viewed daily and has the highest number of comments.

It is not a public holiday in Johor for New Year. Thus, it is work as usual. Unfortunately, a death awaited me in the wards. A 63-year-old lady just died after a Massive Left MCA territory Cerebral Infarct. I use to say that doctors don’t save life’s all the time. It is ” to comfort always, to relive often and to cure sometimes”. Many at times we are just prolonging life. You do need a lot of luck to survive.

I wanted to write something about the screwed up education system of our country, initially but then I noticed that I had written enough about it before, like over here, here and here. I noticed that a lot of my friends have started to send their children to International schools this year. As like the mushrooming of the medical schools, there seem to be a sudden increase in the number of international schools since the government approved 100% local student intake since last year. Another money-making business. Our education system has gone to the dogs and it is creating a class and racial divide. The rich is going to International schools, private schools and across the causeway. The elites especially the Bumiputeras are going to MARA colleges, Boarding schools and agama schools.  The insignificant “poor” souls are going to the national schools. Why the public especially the non-Malays have complete distrust towards the national schools? The answer is very obvious when you ask anyone. Racial and religious discrimination is very obvious in these schools. My relative who is a teacher in a national secondary school in Malacca tells me that the top 2 classes in her school are only for the top Malay students. The Non-Malays will be sent to the 3rd and 4rd classes even though they are among the top students there. This is not something new. Many years ago, in early 2000, the then NUTP Sec-Gen Dato Siva Subramaniam did bring up the issue to the government. A special committee was formed and they quietly closed the case. This is an interesting letter to read. We seem to be producing the highest number of straight A students in the world with NO quality!

I just saw the pamphlet below that was given to Standard 2 Muslim students during a religious celebration in an all girls National school. I got NO issue regarding the fact that everyone should be properly dressed BUT the way it was done. Look at this sentence at the right lower end corner : “Ciri-ciri mengenal kera memakai tudung adalah seperti berikut: ” and ” Cuba perhati sekelling anda, Ramai tak “kera” ?  Is this what they are teaching a Standard 2 student  is a national school? Is the dressing issue so important to be thought in this way to a Standard 2 student?

GOD save this country………….. Happy New Year everyone. It is an election year for sure ……………

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