Scanning the notes on the Monday morning before ward rounds, I had a foreshadowing that this particular family was going to be challenging to speak to- multiple family communication notes over the weekend, documenting the medical team’s repeated attempts to explain to the family what was happening to their

I first met Associate Professor Cheong Pak Yean when I was a medical student, assigned to shadow a GP for my clinical attachment. I was fortunate beyond measure that it was him – the same family doctor my parents had taken me to when I was sick as a teenager. Little

“Listening is talking for him; there’s an eloquence to this kind of attentiveness; it’s rare.” ― Abraham Verghese, The Covenant of Water All clinicians experience from time to time what we call the “difficult patient.” For just a moment, as you read those words, reflect on what arises within

I looked at my patient’s wife this morning, crying, and felt I was witnessing a beautiful sadness. When the husband first came in with a stroke six weeks ago, I remembered the wife crying helplessly. Both of them, in their 80s, were very loving, and were termed “Romeo and

Back in my day We did 36 hour shifts Came back the next morning Traced old notes, retrieved Survived 8 calls per month We did all the ECGs Had 40 patients to round Transcribed medication lists We pushed stainless steel trolleys piled up with patient files After ordering antibiotics We

"Why did you call my brother to collect my discharge medication, instead of me?" From the inside of the pharmacy, I heard a loud voice hurling accusations at my colleague, who then approached me, the floor manager, to try to defuse the situation. I proceeded outside, unsure of

In January 1984, a young Steve Jobs stood before an eager audience at the Apple shareholders meeting and recited the iconic words of Bob Dylan: “The times they are a-changin’.” For the times they are a-changin’ Come writers and critics, who prophesize with your pen And keep your

Please be advised that this story delves into trauma-related topics that may be triggering to the reader They told me about what happened to you, and my heart sank lower and lower as I heard the details. They said you had over 70% body surface area burns. That’s

Recently in a casual conversation in the ward, a doctor asked me why do MSWs write such lengthy entries which may potentially take up a lot of time on our part, when other members of the team may not have the time to read them. I was mildly disappointed at

Formation of Bhutan's Palliative Care service It is my privilege to have served as faculty member in the Lien Collaborative for Palliative Care Bhutan program the past 4 modules. During the first 2 modules in 2018 and 2019, the late Prof Cynthia Goh planted the first seeds that