Author’s note: I’m publishing this article online now, since the newspaper editor to whom I submitted this article seemed to be uninterested in publishing it and did not reply to my email.
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Not too long ago, I wrote an article entitled, “M.D.’s on Strike: Why Doctors are Leaving and Why They Should Be Leaving”. I posted it on my multiply blog and a mailing list I’m subscribed to. Some received it positively, appreciating the risk to bring out an unpopular idea in the open (the only thing that perhaps hindered its offline publication is that I published it online first. Also I have a sneaking suspicion that the newspaper opinion editor does not like bloggers). I also got not so few violent reactions and was accused of neglect of my duties as citizen and abandoning my fellowmen.
I have a hunch that those who emailed or left me accusatory comments on my blogs meant to make me feel guilty of my “selfishness”.
But let me see, why do I need to be guilty thinking about myself? It is in our nature to strive for self-preservation. We are happy when we fulfill our basic needs and have work in keeping of our interests and joys. By striving to work in another place which can provide for the needs of my family and I, I work for our survival. By working on such place where my contributions to health care provision is better understood and appreciated, I work for my own happiness and personal growth. Are these things evil? Of course not. And yet, people see my resolve to work abroad and to encourage others to do, too, if they can, as an indicator of selfishness.
According to these people who call me selfish, there’s already a dwindling number of health care professionals in the country so I should not be adding to the numbers who are already leaving. They say I OUGHT to stay because it is my duty to my fellowmen to serve them. They say I shouldn’t complain about being dirt poor because every doctor goes through that stage of being “dirt poor” anyway. Note, however that those who told me to stay poor are those who are already on the other side of the globe, chilling in their parkas in the perpetual cold but can afford themselves laptops and a decent car to drive.
So, does it mean that I need to sacrifice myself for my fellowmen (when others clearly do not see the need to do the same and yet commanding others to do so) who do not seem to understand the value of such sacrifice and are not worthy of it? Do I kill myself and my family to serve others who continually mistrust me despite obvious indications to the contrary because of their prejudice that all doctors are only out for their money? Did they mean that I should just accept that I am poor and to do nothing about it when I can?
Do I need to feel guilty if I have referred to a patient as “miss” and not “madame” by mistake but just accept meekly if an ill-tempered patient or relative shouts at me in the emergency room in front of other people and the emergency room staff, calling me names that one may only hear from an uncivilized person pretending to be rich and sophisticated, just because they are “emotional”? Do I need to feel guilty if I ask for the appropriate fee for my services but not to be offended if patients/relatives rudely scrutinize my treatment strategy and prescription? Do I need to feel guilty if I have plans of working abroad?
When nurses, teachers, engineers, or domestic helpers leave, they are called heroes or martyrs. But why is it when doctors leave, they are called selfish and unpatriotic? It is because people do not see doctors as human too. It is hard to remove from the minds of those with narrow viewpoints the image of the rich and comfortable doctor, driving in luxury cars and dining in fine restaurants.
What perhaps they fail (or refuse) to see is that doctors can get hungry, too, and have bills to pay. Doctors are humans too who have to fulfill basic needs and want career satisfaction. But unfortunately, it’s difficult to attain those in this country nowadays because of the growing mistrust of patients in their doctors brought about by the media hype on malpracticing doctors and hospitals (when most of these coverages by the media are blown-out-of-proportion versions of the story in an effort to sensationalize an otherwise benign incident) and the government’s apathy for the plight of the health care professionals because its focus rest on those who bring in the dollars that keep the economy afloat. So, you want the dollars to come in? We will leave.
Sorry, folks, there’s no guilt for selfishness in me. I choose to live my life the way I deem it right for me and my family, not the way others say I OUGHT to.
