Insight

The sun hasn't shown its face for a while amidst the rainy and windy winter of Melbourne. Till yesterday. Glorious sun for a whole day. What splendor. As if it knew my heart was in great need of its comforting rays.

Insight is a rarity these days. After spending six weeks in child psychiatry and learning more about DBT which in itself is quite fascinating, it has given me much awareness about certain personalities.

Which is why predictable behaviour is well, predictable. And easily managed.

After weeks of strolling in at 9 am, doing yoga, artwork and having cake for morning tea everyday with these kids, I'm back to general medicine. Bleh. Looks like I have to bring that fashion accessory of a stethoscope now and actually do some doctor work.

I was just talking with some of my M'sian friends about the medical system there. Apparently for the first 4 months of internship they literally work everyday including weekends??!! And after that it's pretty much the same except they can ask for leave but it is highly discouraged.

Their shifts are 36 hours long with 8 hours to sleep. They literally live at the hospital - hence the name houseman. But err, sorry if I was a patient I would not want an intern who's been on his/her feet for 36 hours to treat me. Everyone knows that a burnt-out doctor easily makes mistakes. Blame and shame culture is also quite prevalent when mistakes happen when it's quite clear multiple factors often result in mistakes. There are laws now to prevent the overworking of doctors so that patient safety is not compromised here.

I wonder when they get the time to see their husbands/wives/family.

Where registrars here are the forefront of the hospitals here - they do the difficult procedures that require experience - interns there have to do everything. Usually without supervision!

An intern had to do an episiotomy on the first day of his internship! And the poor intern had never done it before. Without supervision. No intern is getting near me I tell you that if I was giving birth. Especially without supervision.

I wonder how it is in S'pore. I wouldn't be surprised if the working hours are just as long. But not sure about how much supervision they get though. I am soo getting private health care.

Doctors are not infallible. And definitely not superhuman.