In the hospital, we can always see the busy figure of the doctors. They shuttle between patient rooms and operating rooms, using their professional knowledge and skills to bring health and hope to patients.
However, among these angels in white, there was a doctor whose experience was unusual. Because she insisted on her principles and reported the hospital's excessive medical practices, she was ostracized and suppressed by her colleagues. Forced to sit in the corridor of the hospital for more than 800 days, he became what people called "corridor doctors".
The awakening of a doctor of conscience
Lan Yuefeng is a sonographer at the Mianyang People's Hospital in Sichuan Province and the director of the department. In her eyes, being a doctor is not only a profession, but also a responsibility and mission. She often said, "Doctors are benevolent, and it is our vocation to treat diseases and save people." "
One day in May 2009, a 53-year-old patient, Uncle Li, came to the hospital. Uncle Li's lower limbs were uncomfortable and he walked with a limp. After examining Uncle Li, the attending doctor immediately decided to perform two surgeries for him: lower limb vascular surgery and pacemaker installation. As the director of the ultrasound department, Lan Yuefeng needs to issue ultrasound examination opinions for the operation.
However, when Lan Yuefeng carefully reviewed Uncle Li's medical records and examination results, she found that one of the surgeries was not necessary at all. The installation of a pacemaker requires clear indications, and Uncle Li's heart indicators are normal.
Lan Yuefeng believes that the attending doctor's decision is an excessive medical behavior, which is a waste of precious medical resources and increases the unnecessary pain and financial burden of patients.
Lan Yuefeng found the attending doctor and euphemistically put forward his opinion. Unexpectedly, the attending doctor not only accepted it, but also felt that Lan Yuefeng was questioning his professional ability, and even said that she was "finding fault".
Lan Yuefeng went to the hospital leaders to report the situation, hoping that they could pay attention to this problem and strengthen management and supervision. Without exception, the leaders were all unimpressed, thinking that Lan Yuefeng was making a big fuss and affecting the normal operation and income of the hospital.
Lan Yuefeng felt very disappointed and helpless. She couldn't figure out why, in the eyes of some people, making more money from patients is more important than their health, and why people who ask questions have become "outliers".
But she did not abandon her principles and ideals because of this. She continues to uphold the concept of "patient-centered" in her work, insisting on providing patients with high-quality, safe and necessary medical services.
In this way, Lan Yuefeng became an "alternative" in the hospital. Some colleagues began to distance themselves from her, pointing fingers behind her back, saying that she was "fake and high" and "showy"; Some leaders began to target her, giving her small shoes and deducting her bonuses and treatment.
But Lan Yuefeng didn't care about these gossips and unfair treatment, she still went her own way, and did not feel that there was anything wrong with her behavior, but strengthened her confidence and spoke up for the patients.
Lan Yuefeng's deeds were passed on by word of mouth among the patients, and everyone affectionately called her "Dr. Lan". A patient's grandmother once said to Lan Yuefeng emotionally: "Girl, you are a good doctor and a caring person for the people!"
These heartfelt praise and trust made Lan Yuefeng feel very relieved and strengthened her belief.
Suppressed by exclusion
Time flies, and in June 2010, Lan Yuefeng reported to the hospital again, saying that the ultrasound department cooperated with the clinical department to "generate income", and there was excessive medical treatment. This time, she was retaliated against.
The hospital leaders were very dissatisfied with Lan Yuefeng's report, they thought she was "making trouble", and the director even criticized Lan Yuefeng fiercely in front of all the staff, saying that she "didn't understand the rules", "didn't fit in", and was an "outlier". The vice president said bluntly: "If you continue like this, don't want to mix in this hospital!"
Immediately afterwards, Lan Yuefeng was dismissed from the position of director of the ultrasound department, transferred from the position he was familiar with, and was arranged to do some miscellaneous work, such as sorting out medical records, cleaning, etc. Her office was also repossessed, and all personal belongings were thrown down the hallway.
Lan Yuefeng felt inexplicable and aggrieved. She sought a theory from the leadership of the hospital, but to no avail. Seeing the wind and rudder, colleagues drew a line with Lan Yuefeng. They pointed fingers behind her back, saying that she didn't know what to do. Some even ridiculed her to her face: "You are so capable, why don't you go to the director of the health bureau?"
Lan Yuefeng tried to explain to her colleagues several times, but no one wanted to listen to her. When everyone saw her, they hid, and they ignored her when they talked to her.
A nurse who used to have a good relationship told her privately: "Doctor Lan, I beg you, you don't have to cause trouble again, otherwise everyone will be implicated." "
In desperation, Lan Yuefeng could only sit alone in the corridor of the hospital, reading and writing silently. From 2012 to 2014, for more than 800 days in nearly three years, she sat on a bench in the corridor almost every day, becoming a special "scenery" in the hospital.
At first, there were some people who were sympathetic to Lan Yuefeng's experience, and they would say hello to her when they passed by and have a few words. But gradually, everyone got used to her presence, and they stopped paying attention to her. Only patients who come to the clinic will look curiously at this "strange" female doctor.
"Mom, why does that aunt always sit outside alone?"
"She's a 'madman', stay away from her, don't provoke her. "
Lan Yuefeng listened to the whispers around him, and his heart was mixed.
The practice of medicine should be regarded as a patient, but it has been distorted to treat money as life. She couldn't watch medical degradation and had to do something for her patients.
Some people say that Lan Yuefeng is a "fool", stubborn and does not know how to judge the situation. But in Lan Yuefeng's view, he is neither stupid nor crazy, but a doctor with a conscience and principles, a fighter who dares to expose the darkness and resist unhealthy winds.
As Mr. Lu Xun said, "There is no road in the world, and when there are more people walking, it becomes a road." "And this time, Dr. Lan Yuefeng is the brave traveler.
Failed
In this way, Lan Yuefeng defeated one by one, but in the end failed to defeat the underworld. In May 2014, Mianyang People's Hospital held a workers' congress and decided to dismiss Lan Yuefeng on the grounds that she had been "absent from work for a long time, refused to accept patients, and affected the normal operation and image of the hospital".
This decision was undoubtedly the last straw that crushed Lan Yuefeng. She knew that the hospital was doing it purely for the purpose of revenge. However, the hospital flatly denied it, claiming that Lan Yuefeng had been absent from work for a long time without reason and should be dismissed according to regulations.
As a result, a protracted "you come and go" tug-of-war was staged again. The two sides insisted on their own words,-for-tat, and no one could convince anyone. In the end, Lan Yuefeng had to leave the place where she had struggled for many years, and her career came to an end.
As a doctor, she should have been respected and praised for her courage in exposing medical darkness, defending patients' rights, and upholding professional ethics. But the reality made her pay a heavy price, and now her job is gone.
Behind this is the problem of the entire medical system. In an environment where profit is valued over justice, the problems of excessive medical treatment and corruption have long been deeply rooted.
Some hospitals and doctors regard making money as more important than the health of their patients, and regard income generation above medical ethics. A "doctor of conscience" like Lan Yuefeng dared to speak out, and naturally became the "target of the public".
This kind of social environment is undoubtedly toxic, hindering the revelation of the truth, and even more detrimental to the progress of society. If even the medical industry, which saves lives and helps the sick, has such serious problems, what will happen to other fields? Have we fallen into a quagmire of "profit-seeking" and "profit-seeking" and are deviating from civilization and morality step by step?
Fortunately, in recent years, with the development of the Internet and the strengthening of public opinion supervision, some dark sides in the medical field have been exposed, which has attracted widespread attention from all walks of life. The relevant authorities have also stepped up their crackdown on medical violations, and some typical cases are known.
For example, in 2018, the Tongzhou District People's Court of Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, tried a case of illegal business operation. Defendant Zhang was the attending physician of a tertiary hospital in Nantong, and he took advantage of his position to sell to patients for a long time a health care product that claimed to "can treat all kinds of incurable diseases".
This so-called "miracle drug" is actually just an ordinary nutritional supplement, but Zhang sold them to patients at a high price and exaggerated their efficacy, defrauding a lot of money.
After trial, the court found that Zhang's behavior had constituted the crime of illegal business operation and sentenced him to three years in prison and a fine of RMB 200,000.
In 2020, the Shunde District People's Court of Foshan City, Guangdong Province also heard a major medical injury liability dispute case. The plaintiff, Mrs. Zhang, underwent a minor operation at the defendant's hospital, but suffered serious complications after the operation and almost died.
After investigation, it was found that the surgeon had serious medical negligence during the operation, including changing the surgical plan without the patient's consent and improper operation.
The court finally ordered the defendant hospital to compensate Mrs. Zhang for economic losses, disability compensation, and mental injury solatium totaling more than RMB 180.
In addition, in recent years, many doctors have been investigated and punished for crimes such as accepting bribes, illegal business operations, and abuse of power.
It is believed that by increasing the intensity of punishment, improving relevant laws and regulations, and establishing and improving the supervision mechanism, the state will be able to truly curb the medical chaos and safeguard the vital interests of the broad masses of the people.
epilogue
The awakening of a conscientious doctor often stems from the courage to face reality again and again, from the adherence to principles again and again, and from the love and responsibility for patients again and again.
Lan Yuefeng interpreted the "benevolence of doctors" and the professional ethics that a doctor should have. In that environment of lust for profit, she is like a beam of light, illuminating the original intention and essence of medical treatment.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and the awakening of Lan Yuefeng is also the beginning of the reflection of the entire medical system. She used her personal experience to reveal all kinds of chaos in the medical field: excessive medical treatment, valuing profit over justice, department division, and management imbalance...... This requires a concerted effort of the whole society to change. The awakening of a doctor is commendable, but more important is the awakening and reconstruction of the entire medical system.