Tired Doc

There is an interesting topic over at MMR site, about "Tired of being a doctor". Frankly, I think doctors in Malaysia should be allowed to do calls under shift system, and each shift should not be more than 8 hours. And for every 3 night shifts, a doctor should be given days off to recuperate.

Just like yesterday, I had a bad call -- non-stop from 5pm till this morning 6am: 5 intubations, 3 periphery referrals, 1 emergency peritoneal dialysis for acute renal failure (but lucky to escape one exchange transfusion as the serum bilirubin came down at the right time!)... and there u are, I am still in the ward, with my zombified look, and bilateral ptosis, barely could think logically anymore -- so after finish preparing all the chemo drugs and discharge summaries, I am already half-dead here in my ward; luckily it is not so hectic in my ward today -- 25 patients, me alone, no houseman (my colleague needs to be at the Spastic Rehab Centre to help out in the weekly consultation).

Stomach growling, vision blurring, hands trembling -- luckily my nurses are nice enough to spare me with one piece of their roti canai they ordered earlier on! How pathetic! ;)

And worse of all, like what the MMR site states

“…The medicolegal position is that an error made while you are tired is still an error. Tiredness is no defence…”

So now u ask me, if my son asked me what he should be when he grew up, I would tell him anything except being a doctor! ;) Well... but if he somehow likes to be a doc, I will give him my full support too!