Medical Treatment Guide

Author: Feng Tongqiang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features:
1. The "Red Envelope" Issue
During hospitalization, especially when surgery is required, many patients repeatedly consider whether to give a red envelope to the doctor. As for the consideration of patients giving red envelopes, it mainly stems from:
① To attract the doctor's attention and receive additional medical care.
② If others give, but I don't, will I face cold treatment from the doctor?
③ Sincere gratitude to establish a friendly relationship, as it is inevitable to interact with doctors in the future.
As for doctors receiving red envelopes, their main motivation is psychological imbalance, as their income significantly lags behind that of professionals in other industries. Especially when dealing with "affluent" patients and "generous" officials, they might have a mindset of "take advantage if you have the chance." In reality, any doctor approaches patient treatment and surgical operations with meticulous care, striving for perfection. A doctor's status and influence in the hospital primarily depend on their medical expertise. If they frequently make mistakes, their reputation will suffer, affecting their image and credibility. Therefore, whether or not to give a red envelope will not impact the quality of your medical care. The vast majority of doctors regard saving lives and healing the sick as their sacred duty and would never neglect their responsibilities. If you encounter an unethical doctor, the worst that could happen is a slightly poor attitude.
If you are affluent, the money from a red envelope means nothing to you, so giving one to a doctor might be to:
1. Strengthen the friendship with the doctor.
2. Enhance your sense of security.
In that case, it is a different matter. Of course, every industry has its own ethical norms, and healthcare institutions at all levels have regulations that doctors strictly adhere to. They will not accept red envelopes from patients.
2. The Issue of Advocating for Rights
When we talk about advocating for rights, the first thing that comes to mind is advocating for patients. However, medical practice involves both doctors and patients. A doctor's primary duty is to serve patients, and in terms of treating and saving lives, the goals and interests of doctors and patients are aligned. When healthcare workers face dangerous working conditions, patients and their families often face similar risks. I remember during the SARS outbreak, a significant number of infections were among healthcare workers as well as patients and their relatives at the time. The close contact nature of medical practice determines the need to protect healthcare workers' working environment and personal safety, which is also to protect patients' medical environment and personal safety.
It should be noted that with the increasing number of medical disputes, more and more doctors are forced to adopt defensive medical practices when facing potential risks. They dare not perform high-risk surgeries or innovative treatment plans—because if doctors avoid taking risks, the worst outcome is that there is no turning back, and it has long been said that doctors can cure diseases but not save lives. However, once doctors take risks or implement unconventional treatment plans, if something goes wrong, it becomes unclear and indefensible. They face financial compensation and even ruin their careers. This defensive behavior inevitably means that patients may lose even the one percent or one in ten thousand chance of being saved, and at a deeper level, it still harms the patients' interests.
Especially for critical and high-risk cases, time is life. A doctor's hesitation can often delay the best (rescue window), significantly reducing the success rate of rescue efforts.
Additionally, a well-ordered medical environment is a necessary condition for ensuring patient treatment. When these conditions are disrupted,