Bomoh patah

Question: What is the duty of an orthopedic doctor?

Answer: To give MC



That is what I think some of the patients think.

Today a female teacher was admitted with segmental fracture of the tibia. It is bad, without surgery i.e interlocking nail she most probably may end up with an angulated and shortened leg.

But she refuse as she wants to visit the 'bomoh patah'. After advising her she was still adamant. Well, I can't be bothered. She can do what she wants... But to give her MC to seek other alternative treatment and come back for more MC is not my idea of being a orthopedic surgeon. So I told my houseofficers to get her to sign an AOR (at own risk discharge) and give her MC till the day she leaves the hospital.

I refuse to give her an appointment to see us back coz it is a waste of time. They come back to get us to re-xray the limb to show the bomoh (thus stealing the radiographs in the process). A waste of my time!!!! I predict, she is going to have problems at work as no government department recognises MC from the bomoh. But do I care??