Caring for Your Family

Nearly three thousand doctors are spread across parts of Korea, some in the heart of cities, some in islands hours away from land. Instead of serving as a soldier for the mandatory military service, young doctors are taken to the rural parts of the country to help maintain medical service to areas of low access to medicine. Some may say it is a far greater substitution than being a soldier, but nearly a double the service with low pay for a doctor is not too desirable either.

Nonetheless, they are there fulfilling their duties for the country. Some branches of public health centers see less than one patient a day, while some see too much for young doctors to handle. Still, they say it is nothing compared to the rigors of residency. With such favorable working conditions, it might seem natural for the doctors to enjoy a quiet rest for the upcoming three years, but the hiatus is often broken by a few patients with attitudes.

Personally, I have had patients shout all kinds of insults and swear words I have never heard before in my life, while some tried to get rather physical. I distinctly remember a time one patient tried to pick up a chair to throw at me. Though many physicians experience worse conditions working in the emergency department overnight, angered patients in midday seemed too odd a condition for vehement behavior.

At first, I wondered if it had been my own attitude towards the patients. Was I acting obnoxious or rude to my patients? Thankfully, the nurses working with me told my superiors that I had been one of the nicest doctors they have worked with in their times.

Was it the patients themselves? Did they have anger management issues? These patients, however, were elderly who were living such quiet lives. Often times in their revisit, they would be amazingly docile, even to the point they act as if they do not remember what they had said the previous time. It definitely was not about the money either, because most of the public health centers are free for those 65 years or older, even the medications!

Then I realized that the ones that vented out their frustration were in need of attention, of love. The ones that were in low compliance often were the ones with low to no communication with their families. Their sons or daughters would rarely visit, let alone keep in touch. They were the ones living lonely lives, perhaps simply waiting for a knock on the door, or even some kind of mail. They would get upset whenever I would ask them call their families to accompany them to a hospital for additional diagnostic testings. They would be flared up if I asked if they were living with anybody, because the patients would be in no condition to live alone.

I have had a patient with mild dementia who would come months late for their hypertensive medications. She kept repeating that she took a pill a day, and would not believe that she skipped some. It was often times difficult for me to pay close attention to history taking, as her oral hygiene was in such a poor condition, even a mask did not provide protection from foul odor. She seemed too disoriented to be walking around alone.

The truth is, however, this was not just a special occasion. This was rampart, everywhere. This was the current situation of people. Everyone seems lonelier each year, isolated and deemed obsolete. Even families move away, part directions with each other. I do realize that this is rather not a place for a doctor to get involved, but at the same time, I feel like it does cross certain paths. 

Though I have had barely any education in holistic medicine, I feel like all parts of life do affect the health of a patient. Whether it be taking your father to a regular checkup or even simply having dinner with your mother, it could very well be a life and death matter if it is all accumulated in efforts of years. Yes, years and years of anything would change a person definitely, but I am sure you get my point. 

Whenever patients drop by who seem to be in similar situations, I did my best to contact family members to gently remind them to care for their father or mother. I know I probably am not the best son myself, but all of this does remind me as well to engage in the life of my loved ones as well.

This is all probably no surprise, no flashing news, but I felt like I needed to start somewhere, to remind others that there are people waiting for you to reach out and grab them. There are many who are simply too weak and tired to rise up themselves. 

The service period will end sooner or later and I will be leaving here soon. In years to come, however, I wish that more patients are found in peace from the support of their beloveds.