Playing Doctor

There is an old joke about some newly arrived souls are waiting to enter heaven and see an old man carrying golf clubs rush by. ‘Who is that?’ they ask the angel at the gate. The guardian wearily replies” Oh, that’s God- it’s Wednesday and he likes to play doctor.’

Despite this just being a jibe at doctors’ self importance- it sadly also reflects that at times everyone wants to play doctor.

Travelers confronted by poor people with great burdens of disease are often tempted to help but this can cause much more harm than benefit.

People actually licensed and trained to do so should do healthcare.

To properly assess someone with symptoms of disease health care providers need to assess and diagnose an illness then form a treatment plan.

Diagnosing specific conditions can be quite easy sometimes- when the signs and symptoms fit specific patterns for easy recognition but all doctors can tell you there are exceptions to everything. Likewise treatments cannot be cookie cutter formulas applicable to everyone and must be carefully considered.

Watching an episode of House or Grey’s Anatomy can actually give people the right diagnosis and the right treatment but this can go so very wrong.

I have spoken with many volunteers embarking on medical missions where participants may sign up with no medical expierence. Some don’t know where they will be going or what they are doing.

Westerner travelers should never presume that we know better than local healthcare and attempt to diagnose and treat people with their own medication .o prescribe a medication you must know a person s medical history and allergies.

. Undermining local clinics does considerable damage, as people will come to depend on travelers for handouts from travelers instead of developing a relation with their local healthcare providers. I suggest if someone wants to unload medication they should donate it to a local clinic abroad so that they can deicide what to do with it

If you really do want to help someone give them the money to see a good local doctor and buy their local medication, staying away from cheap counterfeit junk medication.

Local peoples are not fair game for anyone to have a try on. One New York group allowed a person with no training to pull teeth on local Nepal people because they didn’t then have a dentist!

Seeking shortcuts may seem attractive but perpetuates problems rather than solves them

If a volunteer traveler doesn’t have the discipline or time to train as a doctor or nurse they should not assume those roles abroad.

I remember doing my Internship with Brian, an Obstetrics resident whose parents were both missionaries. He explained it was his goal to work overseas but was focusing on a specialty in Obstetrics so he could be trained as best as possible.

Many problems existing in developing countries exist in Manitoba. Poverty is one of the main reasons that some illnesses are so common in both situations.

For those interested Siloam Mission on Princess st will allow people to experiencing volunteering within their capabilities and without having to move to Africa please contact, Greg Kilbrai Director of the Saul Sair Health Clinic at 943-0658 is asking for doctors and nurses to volunteer.  I have worked a little there and recommend this as a great opportunity for others who want to help but limited expierence as a there are other opportunities available as well.

There is room for everyone to help and it isn’t so much about more money or more volunteers but careful planning with authentic experiences so that effective change occurs.