Following the recent tragic incident where a trainee doctor was found dead in the Sultan Ismail Petra Hospital (HSIP) dormitory in Kuala Krai, Kelantan, a Malaysian man has shared why he is now forbidding his children from aspiring to become doctors.
Social activist Abbe Hae took to Facebook to recount how he personally witnessed the unjust treatment of trainee doctors.
This image is for illustration purposes only.
“I am a father who spent time caring for his children in hospital wards a few years ago. I often saw specialist doctors, referred to as ‘Sir’ or ‘Miss’, cursing at trainee doctors or junior doctors in front of patients without mercy during morning rounds,” he wrote.
He suggested that the trainee doctor in Kuala Krai may have suffered a similar fate, experiencing high levels of stress that led to the tragic decision to take her own life.
The weight of professional misery
While Abbe acknowledges that specialist doctors must be firm when advising trainees, he believes there should be professional boundaries. He argued that the current culture of public humiliation is the primary reason he has discouraged his children from entering the field.
This image is for illustration purposes only.
“Families and communities may feel proud when their children graduate and become doctors, but they are often unaware of the misery those children endure, being berated every morning by their superiors,” he explained.
A call for systemic change
Abbe noted that this culture of verbal abuse has persisted in hospitals for a long time. While he understands the need for discipline, he insists it should not happen in front of patients.
“You can reprimand them, but not in front of patients. Go into a room to do it if you must. Hopefully, such unwanted incidents won’t happen again. This is why I have forbidden my children from becoming doctors,” he added.
You do not have to struggle with difficult feelings alone. If you’re feeling distressed, depressed, or suicidal, know that help and support are always available.
These helplines are there to help when you’re feeling down or desperate:
Also read: M’sian Urges Hiking Govt Hospital Fee from RM1 to RM10 to Improve Staff Salaries & Infrastructure
