This post is also available in stateofmedicine.org. 

I am frustrated. Frust menonggeng. I just wasted 5 years of my life studying nonsense. All those times spent reading Physiology, Anatomy and Pharmacology was for nothing. I spent 2 years as a houseman for what? Just look at this picture!

I recently got time off from work and off from a decent internet connection. I travelled to KL and the East Coast. With time off from work and less interference from Whatsapp and Facebook, I managed to make a few observations. Since the budget 2014 announcement back in October, everyone in Malaysia felt the pinch of rising costs of living. Maybe not everyone, just the majority, as I have been seeing an increasing number of Bentley Continentals, Audi R8s and Lamborghini Avantadores on the road lately.

I have 3 scenarios to share:

CASE 1

“I can’t afford a house. Everything is expensive!”

This 30 year old gentleman earns RM4XXX a month. Have breakfast at Starbucks every other day. Drives the latest Toyota Vios and watches every new movie that comes out in the cinema. He wants to stay cool and trendy.

“ Doktor kejam. Doktor keji. Doktor tak faham keadaan saya dan suami saya”

What did I do to get myself in this kind of trouble?

I just asked the patient to be admitted to the labor room because of her high risk pregnancy…after consulting the respective department’s MO and considering the previous specialist's orders. Furthermore, she defaulted on the previous appointment with the specialist to determine mode of delivery and plans. The husband was there and even uttered…

“Mana boleh masuk hari ini! Esok saya kena jumpa Datok XXX”