Daily Lesson from Life 15 March 2009

"Sun, Mar 15, 2009 The Straits Times - Good days and bad By Dr Ang Peng Tiam

My family dinners tend to be rather noisy affairs with the kids talking all the time. Sometimes, one of my four children would include me in his or her conversation. 'So, dad, how was work today?'

Most of the time, I would respond: 'It was a good day.' And they would carry on with their chatter. I have two girls, aged 22 and 15, and two boys, aged 19 and 17. Of late, I have been reflecting on what a 'good day' means to me. As far as work is concerned, four factors determine whether my day is good or not.


First, a good day is one in which I see patients with interesting and challenging medical problems. Cancer is a difficult and, at times, worrisome disease, but it also presents an intellectual challenge. I enjoy that part of medicine, especially if there is a chance that I can help make things better.

It is a little like solving a mystery. You begin with a murky picture, then a clearer understanding of the problem. You examine the evidence, do a bit of detecting and offer a solution. The more difficult the problem, the more satisfying it is to find an answer.


Secondly, I enjoy interacting with patients and learning about their lives. My consultation room is like a confessional. Patients unabashedly tell me almost everything going on in their lives. An unfaithful husband's liaison with the maid, the fear of retrenchment because of the recession, birth of the latest grandchild or travel plans to yet another exotic destination. I discuss current issues of the day - the rising cost of living, politics in Malaysia or the annual budget debate. There are days when I feel like I have had the benefit of several expert opinions for which I ought to be paying consultation fees.

Thirdly, I like busy days. I've been told that I walk very fast during ward rounds - I enjoy the feel of high energy. I'm usually at work by 6.30am and get home by 7.30pm. I know that there are patients waiting to see me so I don't take a break for lunch - I drink a bowl of soup, or have a quick bite at my desk. Working hard makes me feel useful.


Lastly and most importantly, what really makes my day is when patients do well. As I write this, I am celebrating a good day. Madam Yu, a middle-aged woman from Myanmar, first came to see me eight weeks ago. At that time, she was in severe pain and her face was as yellow as a lemon. Her liver was markedly swollen and hard as a wooden plank.

However, not every day is a good day. Some days are just tough - some patients do not do well despite our best efforts. Some days, I feel frustration, anger, helplessness and plain bewilderment all at once.

In the midst of all this, I have to remember that there is yet another patient for whom I will need to be calm and collected. There may be a patient whose cancer poses a challenge that may test my knowledge and energies to the full.


No matter how each day evolves, I derive great satisfaction from my work. I am sometimes asked whether I wish I had studied something else, or whether I would discourage my children from becoming doctors. That is something I cannot understand.

In the middle of all the dinner chatter, I make it a point to share with my children the joys and frustrations of each workday. On some days, they actually condescend to listen to me. Hopefully, they will share my passion, want to follow my footsteps and become doctors one day."

The good Dr. writes well. He is very fortunate to have a good family and a great job he enjoyed.

Lesson for me are:
1. if you love your job, you never work a day!;

2. there are always going to be good days and the bad days. Even with 'bad days', you can make them into good days if you are satisfied that you have given your best shots! Also accepting that sometimes the patients are right to feel frustrated for a little well!;

3. as for his wishes for his children to follow him, it will be best left to the kids to decide. Normally if they are interested, they will as they can see what their dad is doing and the good he has done. The kids have a mind of their own!;

4. Dr. Ang has done well and should considered to pursue along the line of Dr Shetty I wrote about yesterday! Do for the poor!!

If you love what you do, you never work a day!!