She was 10 years old, and her second brother – Adik Hasan – passed away due to doctor’s negligence – incorrect prescription due to not doing a thorough examination and based only on simple template of generalizations.
At that time, the idea of suing was not in her vocabulary. She was after all ten. But after she knew about the truth behind her brother’s death and what she can do about it, she was, and still is, angry at the doctors and nurses who assumed that a woman from a kampung was ignorant on the ways of taking care a baby. And she realized that is not worth suing any longer, she can’t bring back her baby brother.
Second example: ‘Doctor is a this a minor operation or major operation?” And the doctor’s reply was this –“We take care of all patients from the northern area. ”. Yes doctor, Odi and Kak Ani knew this , but she still had not answer the question - major or minor. And Odi and Kak Ani had to look for another doctor who was willing to explain the difference between the two and to assure both of them that the operation was a minor one which should not have any complications. This doctor also asked both of them to not stop pray to God, and he was not even a Muslim.
Third example: ‘Is that morphine, Doctor?’. And the doctor said ‘yes’ to Odi. “I thought Dr Abu has given that to my Dad half an hour ago, upstairs?”. The doctor looked at the chart, and said ‘Oh yes.. Nurse, don’t give Pakcik this.” What if Odi was not with her dad? What if Odi was not aware of what had and had not been given to her dad? What if…
Fourth example: “Pakcik, Pakcik jatoh di mana? Kami kena tau. Kami hantar pakcik ke wad patah” Excuse Odi, dear doctor, But her dad was semi-conscious and can barely speak, let alone remember. Odi did not how the doctor was trained, but from her readings on communication, one needed to listen to all involved in a communication situation. Her reaction to this question was “Doctor, my dad fell not because of an accident. He fell because of his heart problem. And I would prefer that he be sent to Wad A2 so that he can be treated for his heart condition”.
“No… we have to treat the accident part first.”
“Look.. I know you want to do your job, but I know my dad better. Just send him to Wad A2”
“Pak cik, Pakck… mana jatoh”
“Doctor, do you think if you are in my dad’s position you could respond. Come on.. Please listen to me … Send him to Wad A2 now, and contact Dr Abu’
It took Odi about half an hour to convince the doctor, well more like forced the doctor to send her father to the ward. The doctor relented when she said “Look do you want me to sue you if it turned out that my dad was like this due to his heart and not the fall”
The point is this, odi would never doubt a doctor if the doctors are willing to explain and to listen to not only the patients, but also to the family members.
She knows the doctors are well versed, are experts in their fields, but sometimes the input from the family members are important in handling a patient, be it an uneducated patient, a semi-consious patient, or a very, very, very, very, very scared patient.
There are many other examples of why Odi is weary about those in the health care profession, but she feels fortunate to meet doctors and nurses who care.
With that, she would like to thank Dr Khoiri and Dr Marlizan who were willing to listen to her little information on her mom, and to Yanthi who was willing to extend her care and compassion after she was off –duty.
I mean, where can you find a doctor who will burn a CD for her, and doctors who chat on FB with her, betol tak my vegan friend – Yanthi?
btw: Happy birthday, Yanthi...
Sunday, July 18, 2010 at 9:27am
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