Feeling Lost
First Quarter 2019
Lately I’ve been out of sorts and in need of healing. This has been an extraordinarily tough start to the year for Singapore’s medical fraternity. What with doctors getting fined staggering amounts for apparently honest mistakes, it’s got many of us wondering if we’ll be next. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/doc-fined-100000-for-not-telling-patient-of-side-effects-although-treatment-was , https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/nuh-clinic-director-fined-50000-for-revealing-patients-confidential-medical.
Daily Grind
When I come to work, I worry if this is the day I bag myself a lawsuit from a disgruntled patient. This threat looms over me, no matter how minor the Presenting Complaint. Not only is the pressure tremendous, but the anxiety, distracting.
Gin For The Win
14 March: Thursday Thirstday
Fortunately I had some much needed rest this weekend. First of all, I had the pleasure of attending a gin masterclass at http://tribenative.com/. It was my first time to Native, which prides itself on using local & regional ingredients in their cocktails.
The Gin Is The Tonic
On this day, their head bartender, Leon, taught us about gin. Apparently, it used to be a herbal medicine back in the Middle Ages. Later, gin was developed by the Dutch as a commercial distilled liquor. In fact, I learnt that when the British drank it, they thought it would give them a bit of courage, giving rise to the phrase “Dutch courage”.
My Remedy
Subsequently, Leon showed me the gin that is distilled inhouse. Although gin is predominately flavoured with juniper berries, Native adds interesting local ingredients like laksa leaves. Now I’m sentimental about very few things but heritage is one of them. Consequently, this taste of tradition speaks volumes to me. Apart from other Singaporean gins like Brass Lion and Tanglin, the class also featured an Indian gin called Hapusa. At the end of the evening, I received a bespoke bottle of gin infused with Japanese influences. Of course, I enjoyed every last drop of it.
Healing Tonic For The Soul
15 March: Friday At The Film Festival
The next evening, I went to the Indian Film Festival with little M5. As the dress code was “Motifs of India”, M5 was thrilled to wear her favorite Indian tunic. She even brought a pair of sunglasses, which I thought was very Bollywood Glam indeed.
Family & Fellowship
Other than a night out with my daughter, I looked forward to hanging out with fellow doctors. My movie dates included juniors from work and fellow members of the Association of Women Doctors (Singapore). With the unfortunate events befalling members of our fraternity, we sure could use some fellowship.
After a sumptuous dinner prepared by Kinara, we watched Anandi, about the first woman doctor in India. Despite racist colonial masters, a misogynistic local community and bleak poverty, she managed to graduate as a doctor. Although she died soon after, her legacy inspired many other female pioneers in India to seek an education and succeed against all odds. What a legend.
Healing Tonic For The Body
16 March: Not Your Average Diet Food
The next day, while I was trying on some pearls at a party at La Putri, I found myself distracted by the party food. As I chatted with the caterer, I discovered a whole new range of healthy baked goods by https://seriouslyketo.com/. Apparently, they replace wheat flour with psyllium husk and almond flour, so their baked goods are gluten-free and low in carbohydrates.
Since I’ve been researching healing food and healthy diets, this concept appeals to me. In fact, I devoured several slices of bread with various healthy spreads. Eager to share the love, I brought some to my colleagues on shift. After all, I know how frustrating it is to seek healthy food options when instant processed food is readily available.
Physician Heal Thyself
Today: Don’t Give Up
Sometimes life feels like one long uphill task. This is especially so when you feel like you’re slogging away, doing something you be believe to be noble. Yet you encounter hostility at every turn. When I think about the legendary Dr Anandi, I cannot help but feel encouraged to press on.
I’m on shift later tonight so I hope I can walk into work without feeling fear. We only live once and I choose the life of a doctor. And to do my job well, I guess I have to look after myself too, mind, body and soul.
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