Sincerity and Service

Currently in my Obstetrics and Gynecology rotation at QMMC, I am a witness to the continuous decline in the luster of hope for our country. In each duty, no doubt almost 50 patients give birth to either healthy or unhealthy babies. Many say that the youth is the new hope for our country. Looking into the process of bringing hope to our tired motherland, it is a process anyone would not want to witness. A maximum of 20 mothers undergo labor all at the same time in one room, with 2 pregnant women sharing a bed. The stench of a woman's vaginal secretions and feces emanates from the room. Being only dressed in their gowns, their private areas are exposed for the whole world to see. Inside, it seems like a zoo where a number of mammals are trying to give birth. Many complain of the pain - then ask them, why did you then get pregnant? Such question speaks of how uneducated many Filipinos are. The lack of knowledge on the process of bringing life and how delicate it is seems to be missing in the lustful process of making it.

Such an ugly picture that I have illustrated right? But that is the reality. As one doctor told me, we are exposed to both worlds: ideal vs reality. However, shouldn't we aim for idealism in any institution? Are we just content with inefficiency, ineffectiveness and pain? The sincerity of service in the health sector appears fake in text and in teaching. How healthcare providers treat their patients speaks for itself. On the other hand, no one can blame such attitude given the stubborn patients that we get. Then, who should be blamed for such disparity? Everyone. It just takes one to make a change. We tried and were appreciated by our patients. But does it work? That I cannot still answer. The growing population stems from 16-year old girls giving birth and multiparous mothers who never quite understood the consequences of a large family. Frustrating.

From the patient, we go into the realm of the healthcare practitioners. In order to provide proper healthcare, we need materials - needles, gauze, tubes and the like. It is like a scavenger hunt every time blood should be extracted or change of dressing should be done. Endless donations breed learned helplessness on the side of the patients. I have noticed how Filipinos lack the will to improve themselves continuously. The attitude of contentment with simplicity seems to be wrongly construed. Again, another frustrating fact. No efficient system was ever developed to hasten processing of laboratories, OR scheduling and other requests. Going in and out of the room and dressing up again wastes time and energy. Yes, you will learn skills but are these the correct ones?

Guided-teaching seems not to be the thrust in Philippine medical practice. You are left on your own, figure things out on the spot given the current problem that is facing you and swallow up that fear you are about to feel. Misaligned expectations bring about frustration among the team members, creating misconceptions of each other. A student is expected to be knowledgeable of being a first assist in a CS case on her first try. There are no excuses for being slow or ignorant - or else you will be judged by the audience. Other healthcare workers smirk or laugh at your mistakes, bring you down and raise an eyebrow whenever you ask for help. Yes, that is the service they have sworn in their own oaths. This is the kind of service and camaraderie the Philippines is capable of.

All of what I have written is irritating and ugly. Yes, many would say that I should not write this especially on the net, but this is the truth - the accepted reality so it seems by many. A number of students have passed by this hospital, yet improvement appears to be stagnant. Many have lost to look farther into the horizon and venture into new paths.

As a future doctor, one should ask the following questions: 1) Are you sincere in providing service to these kinds of patients?; 2) Are you satisfied with the kind of service that you provide?; 3) Would you say that you take part in the process of grooming future physicians who are better?; 4) Would you say that you care enough to the point of doing more? and 5) Do you think your kind of service is what the patient expects of you?

Wanting to be a doctor is easy. But being a sincere one is the most difficult task one would ever do. Skills can be taught but the matters of the heart are learned through time.