Doctors are evil
"Doctors are evil". "Doctors are like whores". "Doctors make too much money". "Doctors profit from the suffering of others"
In Singapore that's probably what the majority of Singaporeans think to themselves everytime they think of doctors. It's just the way it is. Or at least how I've come to feel in my 2 years working in the HDB heartland in the south.
And they do have a point. Because these people are not rich. You see beggards sitting along the walkways asking for money. You see people passing urine in public.
And a good number of patients will always bargain for that discount and expect to get it.
Everytime I tell a diabetes or hypertensive patient that they need to increase their meds or that they have to do a HBA1c or Lipid profile and they say they have no money....well I lose my moral ground. And they start to ask for free this and free that cos we doctors make so much money. To them making $3k to $4k a month is a lot of money already! It is way beyond their wildest dreams!
So how do I practise medicine like that? I can't.
I think where I am going....in the central region...it's going to be very much the same.
It might be time to look at things again and see if it is worthwhile staying in this STUPID profession. I'm quite sick of feeling this way.
A patient told me this. You guys are just like those City Harvest Church pastors. Con people. Pretend say want to help etc, but really you guys are all just interested in making money.
So making money is not bad if you are say a businessman or banker. But as a doctor, or a pastor, you should not be making money.
posted by Dr Oz bloke @ 5:18 AM
21 Comments:
Not everyone thinks that way. Only the grouch and the grumpy. So ignore them all.
Well of course not everyone. But we can't ignore them because they are right in front of you.
And they do have a point. And it's not like I see them and the govt pays me. So I can feel for them when they plead that they have no money. Asking them to go to the Polyclinic is also not the most heartfelt thing to do.
No win situation.
Sometimes you gotta try and figure out whether are they geninuely having financial woes that they can't afford the extra medications.They may come up with whatever sort of financial reasons to get a cheap deal out of you.
Just be firm and at least, you know that you are trying your best to help them with what you can.
Hi,
Don't blame the patients.
Sometimes we docs give the impression to the public that we are prostituting ourselves.
Ha ha
Cheers
Dr.H
The problem is that some doctors who were born rich were seen to be flaunting their wealth which make some people think that doctors are rich.
Some doctors are rich because they were born rich and not because of their profession.
The smart profession hide their incomes and as doctors earn money from seeing sick patients, thus patients will feel that if doctors are rich they should waive their fees for them.
Morale of story, u can charge patient.
U can treat them for free.
But u can't charge some and tx some for free.
Those who can't afford just have to go polyclinic.
U dont go to a restaurant to beg for food, u should not go to a private clinic expecting polyclinic charges.
Anon at 8.14am, you got to be kidding, doctors are not rich.
Then, I better tell all those wanting to study medicine not to waste their time and their parent's hard earn money(esp poor kids), unless it's really, really their passion.
Ask any teenagers who wants to be a doctor and they will tell you it's the money and job security - have you heard of doctors being retrenched.
Doctors being retrenched?
It has happened! Medical group not doing well, downsizes and retrenches the doctors. Of course the doctors can find another job again quite easily eg Polyclinics.
But retrenchment has happened.
And I think as time goes on we will start to see some doctors having difficulties getting a job. Singapore is a small country. We have too many GPs
U are totally misguided.
If doctors are rich, why would they still need to work?
The most u can say is that doctors lead a comfortable lifestyle but so do teachers, lawyers and other professionals.
So stop criticising doctors like u don't criticize principals for 5 digit salaries.
Dr are rich, but that is the story of the past. Increased competition and polyclinics have definitely. Dr aren't evil but society has definitely changed a lot.
I have heard from many that GPs mark up their drugs (especially for generic) a lot , so patients find it expensive and that's why patients are unwilling to be managed by the GP.
Dear anon, of course you are most welcome to go to the polyclinics where the drug costs are subsidized.
This thing about marking up. It happens in every industry. My father was telling me how he had a friend who bought T-shirts at $1 a piece from China and sold it for $10 in Singapore.
There's a mark up in everything really. It's up to you to choose. At least in Singapore, the government does give you a choice on cheaper subsidized drugs. Of course in other countries everything is free.
But just another question. Is visiting the doctor just about buying medication? The cheaper the drugs the better? Nothing to do with having a good doctor who understands you, cares about you and communicates with you?
I guess that's how Singapore is isn't it?
In the long run, I'm still going to go for a stint working overseas. eg Australia.
Dr Oz
"nothing to do with a doctor who understands you, cares about you and communicates with you"
How I wish - even if there is - how many - only a handful.
Honestly, in my opinion and experiences with doctors who can communicates with you - maybe still able to find.
Understands and cares for you - I have lost my faith and trust in these two areas.
No matter how you tell your regular doctor of your aliments and if he thinks it's not important or life threatening, even though past test results shows - he can and will in his own opinion chooses to ignore it or thinks that it's ok, you patients are over reacting and then brushes it away.
Mostly, patients will trust the doctor's opinion and accept it.
What happens if much later, the annual results shows and it's in bad shape - then what? What should the patient do in such a situation? I wonder?
I know what a nasty patient will do but a nice one - I really don't know.
Hi anon,
I understand how you feel. I have met many patients who say the same thing.
I was just telling my wife yesterday how I was spending 1 hour, 45 minutes seeing each patient at my new job. But that these patients had several problems and had seen many doctors and been frustrated. Got to invest some time to talk to them explain to them and most of all Individualize a plan of management for them. (Not so easy as a one size fits all)
So what you are saying is very familiar to me.
I hope you have a doctor that you can go to that you trust to take care of you. If not please go find one!
At the end of the day, it's in your hands to find one of those handful. They certainly can't go looking for you right?
I am glad you understand, but to find one of those handful - thought I have found one who is my present doctor of 2yrs, whereby communication is always a 2-way traffic and I trusted him and look what happens.
Just hope my 2nd test shows no further complication.
Patients can never know what's in a doctor's mind when treating you - you can tell him everything and how much he believes you is another question. You can't force him to treat you if he thinks otherwise.
Now, I am in a dilemma, should I continue to see him or start all over with a new doctor. If I can find a good one. Doctor hunting can be very frustrating too.
Pte gps tend to overservice you and public doctors tend to underservice you.
I think I will travel to the northern end to a free clinic to seek the doctor's opinion. Honestly, I believe I can trust them as they have nothing to gain at patient's expense.
One more question, why is it so difficult to get a doctor to treat insomnia, they are so reluctant to give you sleeping pills?
Nice to know you are happy in your new job and hope everything is brighter now. Cheers!
Hmm it's hard for me to even guess what problem you are facing. I still think it might be a case of miscommunication between you and your doctor. In such instances it is worthwhile to seek a "second opinion". You might or might not find that things might not be as bad or good as you think.
To answer your question about insomnia treatment.....
Firstly to most doctors, treating insomnia = giving hypnotic drugs ie sleeping pills. In fact to most doctors, any condition/patient = give drugs.
And recently MOH/SMC has come down hard on doctors who indiscriminately prescribe sleeping pills. Sleeping pills are also highly addictive (once you start you can't stop, something like Pringles Potato Chips :)
The key really is that msot doctors don't bother to find out if there might be other things that cause insomnia rather than jsut treating the "symptom" with sleeping pills. Eg hormonal imbalances?
I hope things work out for you soon.
Honestly, there is no miscommunication because everytime(every 2 months) when I sees him for check up and medication, will always asks him abt this condition that is bugging me.
Despite the fact that I reminded him that past yearly results showed that it's pretty low. He's usual reply is, no, it's ok. don't need to take your supplements.
Finally, I insist on a blood test to prove it and the results are quiet worrying - now he really sits up and took notice - so much for trusting yr doctor.
Totally agree with you abt the way most doctors treat insomnia and if they are not keen to treat you they always accuse you of drink coffee or tea before bedtime and then brushes it off. Still got to pay for consult.
Abt sleeping pills, not everyone might become addicted to it, took for 4 days due to very sever migraine and after that was back to normal.
Patients are always at the mercy of their doctors, sigh.
Sorry, you have to hear abt my disappointment. Wish there were more patient, caring and dedicated doctors like you.
Hi Anonymous,
I refer to what you wrote:
"drink coffee or tea before bedtime and then brushes it off. Still got to pay for consult."
Quite saddened by what you said about the consultation charge. Even more saddened that your view is probably typical of that of most Singaporeans.
Many Singaporeans think the economic value of their GP's time is ZERO. This means that if there is no medication, "then no charges, right?"
The average consult charge of the Singapore GP is SGD8 to 12. This consult charge has not increased for the pass 20 years. Please also google for the average GP consult charges in other countries with equivalent cost of living.
If this situation does not improve further or in fact deteriorates, there will be more GPs/other doctors (in addition to Dr Oz Bloke) who will go to these other countries where their services are held in higher esteem.
The musical chair will be like this: Sg Dr to NZ/Oz/US/UK/Canada. Dr from Malaysia/Bangladesh/India/Phillipines to Sg. It is already happening, but this trend may accelerate.
Would you rather see a Singaporean Dr (trained in Singapore) or a Foreign Talent?
"I have heard from many that GPs mark up their drugs (especially for generic) a lot , so patients find it expensive and that's why patients are unwilling to be managed by the GP."
Mark-up? NOOOOOOO..... God forbid!!!
GPs are Gandhi-alive-again... they live in ashes and sackcloth, have no children, wear footwear they make themselves, and also celibate.
Why would they mark-up? They would definitely pass the medication to you at the cost they bought it from the drug companies. Some might even absorb GST because competition is just Cut-Throat.
Errrrrr... hang-on.... I thought this world only ever had one Gandhi... Hmmmmmmmmm
It is a fact that a doctor kills more people due to lack of knowledge or stupid policies than any other normal person. Evil doctors evaluate the patient’s illness as source of income and carrier achievement. A normal “healthy person” turns into “patient” in family physician’s office.
Doctors are not rich. They work hard for their money. Look at people at Lehman Brothers for instance. They hire people who cannot even speak English without an accent (they are from India) and these people make 10x more than the average American, over $350,000 a year. Think about it, they don't even have intelligence, if they did they would become a doctor. Instead they make easy money by not having intelligence.
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