Housemen Not Allowed To Do Discharge Summary

Recently my hospital has come out with a circular, stating that with effect from 15 Nov, all house officers are NOT allowed to sign any discharge summary for hospital in-patients. All discharge certs must be signed by ONLY medical officers of the respective wards! The reason given by the hospital director is that there are many medico-legal implication if housemen are allowed to write and sign the discharge certs.

So nowadays, in my hospital, at least in my wards, house officers are pretty lepak. Major procedures (like chest tubes, femoral lines, peritoneal dialysis, or even inserting CBD for neonates) are all done by MOs; referral cases from district or more difficult cases (like HUS, ARF, mixed AGN-Nephrotic etc.) are clerked by MOs; setting IV lines by MOs (if the nurses tried hard and still can't get it); setting long lines for TPN by MOs; preparing TPN by MOs; ward rounds, if the HOs are slow to finish, again will be reviewed and cleared up by MOs; clinics run by MOs (no HO in clinic!); chemo drug preparation by MOs; if HOs shortage, no EOD calls allowed for HOs, and so the MOs gotta do HO calls.... And now, even discharge certs must be by MOs!!!

Well, for those final year med students graduating next year, you can really really consider my hospital for housemanship posting! Good for you -- easy money, and easy life; unlike working in HKL or JB! ;)

Seriously, think about it!

Addendum: Now my HOD decides that all HOs can write the discharge certs, and sign them; but still need MOs to countersign -- responsibility still on MOs, should it turns up to be a medicolegal case later! Hmm...