Healthy doctor-patient ties need work on both sides

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According to a recent survey conducted by the Shanghai Medical Labor Union, only 13.7 percent of medical professionals in the city would be willing to let their children follow in their footsteps. Such results come just as escalating tensions between doctors and patients bring long-standing problems in China's medical system under the spotlight.Over recent years, China has seen countless instances where malpractice disputes have turned violent, with disgruntled patients and their family members occasionally killing doctors and nurses over what they perceive as inadequate treatment. Moreover, many health professionals are feeling the strain of long hours, heavy workloads and low pay - not to mention the looming threat of physical danger. Indeed, conditions at the country's crowded, understaffed hospitals mean that doctors typically have little time to spend with patients, which only increases the likelihood of mistakes and mishaps. At the same time, some unprincipled professionals have been known to accept bribes in exchange for preferential treatment or kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies for prescribing unnecessary drugs. Understandably, reports of such practices have done much to sour the public's faith in the medical profession.Obviously, fixing the many thorny problems that are currently bedeviling China's healthcare system won't be easy. There are many things that need to be done on both sides of the doctor-patient relationship.According to an otolaryngologist in Shanghai contacted for this article, the pressures of the hospital environment mean that most doctors can afford to spend no more than 10 minutes with each patient before making a diagnosis. This means that few doctors bother to either explain the problems afflicting their patients or review the treatment they plan to administer. And even fewer have the chance to follow up with their patients after they leave the consultation room. For patients, who may spend hours queuing up to see a doctor, a lack of explanation or consideration can easily sow uncertainty, anxiety and suspicion. While a doctor's time may indeed be scarce, patients nevertheless are owed some basic knowledge about their conditions - if for no other reason than to set their minds at ease.Of course, patients need to play a part in diffusing tensions as well. Unfortunately, many people in China have unrealistically high expectations when it comes to doctors. When we're sick or injured, we all want to see a miracle-worker - but if we expect to see a peerless healer every time we visit the hospital, we are just setting ourselves up for disappointment. Doctors are people too - highly skilled, highly trained, intelligent people with many years of professional education under their belts; but people nonetheless. We have to accept that people in all professions are fallible, especially in the less than ideal circumstances that exist in so many local hospitals and clinics. By the same token, people should also realize that there are limits to medical science. In certain circumstances, there are injuries and illnesses that doctors - even with the best resources - won't be able to fix. Cases of malpractice are one thing, but doctors largely deserve at least the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the decisions they make for their patients. As I grew up, I heard about heroic medical figures like Norman Bethune, the Canadian physician who was memorialized in a famous essay read by many Chinese youngsters, and was stirred by these examples of selfless devotion to human life. Times have changed though and doctors have lost a great deal of the respect they once enjoyed. Rectifying this situation requires effort from both doctors and patients. Tags: Rapid Prototyping, Rapid Prototyping China, Plastic Tooling, Plastic Tooling China, Rapid Prototype, Rapid Prototype China, Rapid Tooling, Rapid Tooling China, CNC Prototype, CNC Prototype China, Functional Prototype, Functional Prototype China, Metal Prototype, Metal Prototype China, Plastic Prototype, Plastic Prototype China, Rapid Manufacturing, Rapid Manufacturing China, Low volume production, Stereolithography, Stereolithography China, Vacuum Casting, Vacuum Casting China, whatsapp marketing, wechat marketing, seo, e marketing, �W��OӋ�ṩseo, e marketing, web design by zoapcon