March 23rd, Heilongjiang, China. A patient stabbed three doctors after the intern doctor, Wang Hao told him that prior to the treatment for his spine disease he must first cure his TB. Two doctors were severely injured; this medical student stopped breathing right away.
After the patient was arrested, he said that the reason he intended to kill the doctors was that he believed they refused to cure him.
The tragedy was soon reported, among 6000 comments under the news, more than 4000 readers voted "happy" about news while fewer than 2000 voted "sad". One citizen wrote: let's have some beer and music, celebrate!
It is understandable that people in China are generally dissatisfied with the medical care from doctors and the whole system. For a long time, doctors are known for charging extra money for treatments and extract money from patients by prescribing expensive but impractical drugs. And from time to time, news about patients dying due to the misdiagnosis comes up. Most people who voted "happy" reflect these facts and think these doctors deserve their death.
However, it is also known that doctors in China are not well-paid and respected. The medical system is more like a bureau system in which doctors' salary are fixed by rank instead of by effectiveness and number of treatments. Doctors are hard pressed to recover their tuition expenses under this low-paying system. With general acceptance of Chinese traditional medicine, patients are more apt to second-guess the western medicine treatment they may receive.
From a professional perspective, an article which was posted right away on a medical website which defended the young doctor's decision because his TB would create serious life-threatening syndrome for the treatment. That's to say, the patient killed the doctor who tried to save his life.
Wang Hao was just admitted to a top doctoral programs in a Hong Kong University. For five years he interned in a hospital without receiving any salary. Wang Hao was kind-hearted and he often personally advanced the required prepayment fees on behalf of his patients who could not afford the hospital fees, as reported by his colleagues and classmates. However, it is coldblooded and inhumane to discuss whether the killer and those who commented "happy" are in the right or wrong because obviously no living being deserves this.
I am very sad at such a new, though i don't find it very surprising. Several years ago, one of my friends who worked as a doctor told me that medical workers are frequently assaulted; all doctors and nurses in his hospital have to keep the windows open so in case they must escape from a disgruntled patient who comes threatening. I saw several reports of revenge by patients who feel they did not receive fair treatments.
What is wrong with our society? Are we living in a society in which doctors are believed to be killers instead of people who save lives? Do people not trust the experts any more? Do we need a moral treatment besides the physical treatment? From among the 4000 out of 6000 who express happiness at the death of a young devoted professional healer, will there rise another killer?
Many a friends have sent me this news and ask if i can do something about this, as a medical journalism student. It is a sad state of affairs when so many of in our society have developed the dark thoughts that doctors could deserve such a fate. We should consider the positive contribution and the countless lives that the medical profession save on a daily basis and keep a balanced attitude about the advancement of our medical system. Tragic events like Wang Hao must not occur again.
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