Musings || On working as a medical doctor2 mins read

There’s a whole hype about how being a medical doctor is a really tasking job and as a medical doctor myself, I sometimes feel like that hype might be overrated. This experience during my housejob year made me thing differently.

It was my first overnight call at the accidents and emergency department and the day had been rough. I was really really uninterested and seriously wanted to be anywhere else but there. That feeling almost put me in trouble that night.

I saw patients as I should and I did everything right up until one last thing. I made a wrong judgment which could have had grave consequences but gladly, it didn’t. In retrospect, certain flaws in the system where also responsible for the error and delay in catching it but ultimately, I acknowledge that I was at fault.

The experience really shook me and I was certain that I wouldn’t go into clinical medicine. I mean, as doctors we deal with human life and a slip or an error due to whatever reason could have grave consequences. And when it happens, people forget that you’re human too, they forget that sometimes you aren’t always at your best and so can have lapses in judgment.

Everyone just expects that because you’re a doctor, you should be in tiptop shape all the time. And to an extent they are not wrong. To whom much is given, much is expected. For all the respect and higher pay (not always) and all that doctors/health professionals get, we really should hold ourselves to higher standards and expect an uproar if we slip up. It just isn’t always easy.

The experience also made me realize that as doctors who are humans first, mistakes are bound to happen, some of which may have grave consequences. We have to be able to acknowledge our faults, learn from them and ultimately forgive ourselves, no matter the outcome. It’s a tough job we’ve got and it requires a lot, physically, mentally and emotionally.

People say doctors are proud and overrated but honestly I think this job deserves all the ratings. Maybe I’m biased, maybe I’m just looking for an excuse, I don’t know. All I know is being a healthcare professional, especially a doctor who takes the heat when shit hits the fan, is a hell of a job. And it is not for the light-hearted.

Thankfully, I got over it and all was well with the patient, but I still wonder if I’m up for this kind of job for a good part of my life. I wrote about my indecision towards clinical medicine in this post about doctoring. My mind is definitely being tilted more to one side as days go by.

I hope after reading this post, you appreciate your health personnel – doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lab technicians and even the hospital cleaners – a bit more. It really is a hell of a job, anywhere in the world. Now add the Nigerian factor and you see that this work ain’t easy.

Do something nice for a healthcare worker that you know today, send a word of encourage, perform a kind deed, just do something to make them feel appreciated. They’ll be glad you did. I’ll be too.

xOxO,

Dr. Sisikunmi