Working on a day of rest
The Bible says "Six days you shall work and on the seventh day, you shall rest". It's a beautiful morning today. Blue skies, warm weather, perfect to take the family out for a swim. A day to rest, reflect and recuperate.
But no, I am on call. I have been working on so many weekends in my career as a doctor that the days just blur into one another. Weekends no longer mean anything. On any given weekend, I would be working as would hundreds of my fellow colleagues. Newspapers focus on firefighters, nurses, policemen, soldiers, even 7-11 workers annually when they had to 'work' while others spend their holidays in festivities. Not once have I read an article on doctors. Why? Because doctors work all the time, regardless whether there is any public holidays or festivities going on. Doctors are not allowed to fall sick. My patients are always shocked when I tell them I don't feel too good. They cannot imagine that the one who heals can himself be sick.
Doctors are not allowed to take MCs. To get an MC from a fellow doctor is like asking for another rise in toll rates or petrol price. In short, doctors are not human (or at least not supposed to be).
It irks me most when people go around saying "You are doing a noble job, you are saving lives, you should be proud of your work, you should make the sacrifices".
Yes, it's a noble job indeed. I would even go as far to say it's a divine job (God, my Father, is the Great Physician); yes, we save lives (or try our best to); and yes, I am very proud of my work. It gives me satisfaction as no other work would (and I have done lots of other work before) and finally, yes, some sacrifices are in order.
But, doctors are human too. They get tired, they don't get enough rest, they have bills to pay as any other human being, they have families who miss them, children who don't have daddy around on weekends, wives who must shoulder both the responsibllities of being mummy and daddy. Doctors get sick too. They are, after all, only human.
I think it's a lovely day wasted. But duties beckon. To my fellow doctors out there who is working today. Keep up the great work. God in heaven will reward you some day ( I doubt our fellow human being would). And may we all have the chance to get some sleep some time today.
The Bible says "Six days you shall work and on the seventh day, you shall rest". It's a beautiful morning today. Blue skies, warm weather, perfect to take the family out for a swim. A day to rest, reflect and recuperate.
But no, I am on call. I have been working on so many weekends in my career as a doctor that the days just blur into one another. Weekends no longer mean anything. On any given weekend, I would be working as would hundreds of my fellow colleagues. Newspapers focus on firefighters, nurses, policemen, soldiers, even 7-11 workers annually when they had to 'work' while others spend their holidays in festivities. Not once have I read an article on doctors. Why? Because doctors work all the time, regardless whether there is any public holidays or festivities going on. Doctors are not allowed to fall sick. My patients are always shocked when I tell them I don't feel too good. They cannot imagine that the one who heals can himself be sick.
Doctors are not allowed to take MCs. To get an MC from a fellow doctor is like asking for another rise in toll rates or petrol price. In short, doctors are not human (or at least not supposed to be).
It irks me most when people go around saying "You are doing a noble job, you are saving lives, you should be proud of your work, you should make the sacrifices".
Yes, it's a noble job indeed. I would even go as far to say it's a divine job (God, my Father, is the Great Physician); yes, we save lives (or try our best to); and yes, I am very proud of my work. It gives me satisfaction as no other work would (and I have done lots of other work before) and finally, yes, some sacrifices are in order.
But, doctors are human too. They get tired, they don't get enough rest, they have bills to pay as any other human being, they have families who miss them, children who don't have daddy around on weekends, wives who must shoulder both the responsibllities of being mummy and daddy. Doctors get sick too. They are, after all, only human.
I think it's a lovely day wasted. But duties beckon. To my fellow doctors out there who is working today. Keep up the great work. God in heaven will reward you some day ( I doubt our fellow human being would). And may we all have the chance to get some sleep some time today.
posted by Jimbo @ 3/12/2006 11:05:00 AM
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