Profile Of The Clueless
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Boo.. its me again after a period…
I must say there has been a lot going through my head and I would like to share with regards to what has happened.
It was on x’mas day in which I came about knowing this. I was hugely taken aback, shocked and somehow petrified. On the brighter note, I knew that for all had happened, I’m fortunate to have someone by my side.
I have been maligned and am in great disbelief to have been charged on 3 offences: malingering, slamming the door and using profanity by a doctor at CGH. It was only till Sarah’s friend who told her about this; else I would have been kept in the dark. He is a medic at Selarang Camp - An unpleasant one.
Sometime back in December, I went for my medical appointment at CGH. A doctor attended me and he spent 5 to 10 seconds observing my X-ray before seemingly confidently claiming that my Metatarsal Stress Fracture on my right foot had been healed. I was silently doubtful of his medical proficiency and professionalism due to the fact that the previous specialist had spent at least 3 to 5 minutes providing me with the diagnosis while this doctor seemed to have been able to tell everything in less than 10 seconds. I was also exceptionally concerned because SAF MO once overlooked my injury.
I informed the doctor about the slight pain I had been feeling in my left foot and he requested for an X-ray/Scan to be performed on me that very afternoon. I told him that I was not free to carry out the scan at the stipulated time, and I was questioned about the reason behind it. What he did was more of demanding me for an answer suspiciously, in a tone that made me feel like a suspect under interrogation; I was not treated with the respect that any patient should. Nevertheless, I responded, unaffected by the tone he used on me, stating that I had an NS commitment, to which he responded that medical checkups will cover all NS commitments. He insisted on wanting the scan to be done that very afternoon although it could very well have been performed at a later date, as carried out by previous doctors from the same clinic.
When the doctor questioned me again about the reason for not being able to perform the scan that afternoon, I told him, once again, that I could not make it, this time being more specific about what was holding me back - Sarah. This was true, because I was going Christmas Cohesion Shopping with my colleagues, which she was going to join. He came to the hasty conclusion that I was malingering just because I mentioned "girlfriend" after NS commitments. Moreover, I’m not obliged to disclose my appointments. I feel greatly insulted that my integrity has been doubted.
The doctor then agreed to perform the scan on another day and I was told to wait outside his room. The nurse then told me about the details of the bone scan and the $140 medical fee alarmed me. I was shocked that he had not sought my opinion before filing for a bone scan - I then re-entered the room when he was available and asked him why I needed a bone scan instead of an X-ray. An X-ray would be cheaper and besides, the previous specialist could recognise the fracture in my right foot with an in-depth observation from the X-ray film. The doctor did not justify his decision, giving a sweeping statement that a bone scan would be able to determine everything in detail. He did not even bother looking at me while talking, an obvious display of his lack of respect and basic etiquette. Neither did he offer me a seat, ironic since he was supposed to know of my medical condition.
I asked, "Are you going to pay for my bone scan?" He then replied, saying that he would write a memo to the SAF MO I/C and await his reply. I was frustrated by his lack of professionalism and unhelpful attitude, and I felt discriminated against because I was a serviceman. I left the room, ticked off, slamming the door. I exclaimed at the front of the registration counter, “What kind of attitude is this?” Thereafter, I proceeded to the Human Resource Department to lodge a complaint. As CGH does not have the necessary equipment to perform the scan, the doctor wanted me to travel to SGH to do a bone scan on that very day and return to see him thereafter. It was 1.15 pm and traveling to SGH for the scan and back would have taken hours. I would not have been able to return before the clinic closed. The traumatic state I was in was entirely, if not mostly, caused by the doctor’s attitude towards me.
The doctor also claim that I had used profanity; he has, once again, insulted me, by insinuating that I could not find a better way to express myself than to spew vulgarities. If he would like to stick by his claim, I would urge him to gather witnesses as support, if not his claim would not be even remotely valid.
On X’mas, I learnt that I was going to be charged by the SAF MO with regards to this incident. It is disturbing how the doctor took pains to inquire about my camp origin so as to prosecute a charge against me, and that he did so on the very day of the incident. Could this be discrimination against servicemen or me in particular? Moreover, despite being medical-in-confidence, the doctor informed my SAF MO who took the pleasure of spreading to many people from my camp about my medical complaint. Colleagues from the Medical Centre now look at me in bad light because of this incident.
I had always thought of doctors to be dignified people, helping others and saving lives, but this incident has completely changed my opinion on that. This doctor did not treat me as a human being - I was not shown the care and the respect I rightfully deserved.
Where is justice in this world? Should I get punished for a mistake, of which military law protects civilian doctors? Why are doctors stereotyping NSFs?
I’ve been having sleepless nights over this issue. Eye bags, dark rings, dull emotions arises upon. When will this end? I apologize to whomever I offended during this dark period of mine.
But I most certainly must say, whenever I see you, I smile.
Thanks for being by my side. =)