A Family Doctor’s Tale (Updated 2021)

This book is a true story based on my journey as a medical student to become a Family Doctor and the medical illnesses that were seen during my practiceThis is the first book that I wrote in 2012 about my journey as a medical student to become a family doctor and the skills in diagnosing and treating medical disorders seen in my family practice. It is not a story about becoming a rich doctor but a doctor who is involved in the community, working for the community and helping the poor.
Just 4 months ago I was helping out in the Buona Vista community center to answer questions on Covid-19 and the necessity of Covid-19 vaccinations. Working in hospitals during my housemanship (medical intern) was challenging especially when it involved many night duties and insufficient beds to sleep in. The monthly pay was $600 Singapore dollars a month in 1972 but the experience helped to mold a doctor 's outlook in life.
Hospital life teaches comradeship among colleagues and nurses. Patients that young doctors take care of had more serious illnesses and needed more comforting words and treatment. Private practice was much easier and provided a better pay. The medical experience of communication with the senior doctors and the patients is one of the most important learning journey in a young doctor's life. You learn to be humble when you see how the poorer community lives and still remains happy despite their low income.
You see the gratitude in their faces when you provide them with medicines and free milk powder for their children. You are happy when they recover from their illness when they thought that there is no hope. A family doctor is sometimes part of a family of patients. Problems in the family are entrusted to you:1. Complaints about the children and their parents, 2. Incompatibility between spouses, 3.
Cancer stricken patients, terminal patients. It is all part of a family doctor's life. TABLE OF CONTENTChapter 1 - IN THE BEGINNINGChapter 2 - THE NEW DOCTORChapter 3 - THE ENT DEPARTMENTChapter 4 - A TALE OF 2 CANCERSChapter 5 - THE ANESTHETIC DEPARTMENTChapter 6 - A TALE OF 2 ANESTHETISTSChapter 7 - ANESTHESIA, SURGEONS and SLEEPChapter 8 - THOMSON ROAD GENERAL HOSPITALChapter 9 - EMERGENCIES AND NIGHT DUTIESChapter 10 - MALARIA PATIENTChapter 11 - THE MILK DRIPChapter 12 - VALLEY OF THE DOLLSChapter 13 - INSECTICIDE POISONINGChapter 14 - MEDICAL COLLEAGUESChapter 15 - MEDICAL LOCUMChapter 16 - THE RUNDOWN FAMILY CLINICChapter 17 - GROUP PRACTICE LOCUMChapter 18 - FACTORIES, SHIP AND HOUSE CALLSChapter 19 - MY OWN FAMILY CLINICChapter 20 - MY FIRST PATIENTChapter 21 - WORD OF MOUTHChapter 22 - MY COMMUNITY OF PATIENTSChapter 23- THE FAMILY DOCTORChapter 24 - ART OF COMMUNICATION IN FAMILY PRACTICEChapter 25 - FAMILY COUNSELORChapter 26 - ASSISTANT DOCTORChapter 27 - PARTNERSHIPChapter 28 - PIN IN THE FOOTChapter 29 - ARTHRITIS CASESChapter 30 - ASTHMA AND BREATHLESSNESSChapter 31 - GASTRITISChapter 32 - GASTROENTERITISChapter 33 - TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIAChapter 34 - SKIN INFECTIONSChapter 35 - THE COMMON COLDChapter 36 - INFLUENZAChapter 37 - STORY OF AMAZING COLD SORE VIRUSChapter 38 - ORIGINAL POEM ON SPAChapter 39 - A DAY AT THE SPAChapter 40 - COMPASSIONEPILOGUE