The Ethics of Elderly Physicians
SUKHIT PHAOSA VA SDI, MD*, SURASAK TANEEPANICHSKUL, MD*, YUEN TANNIRANDORN, MD*, CHUMSAK PRUKSAPONG, MD*, PINIT KULLAVANUAYA,MD**, AURCHART KARNJANAPITAK, MD***
Affiliation : * Member of Thai Medical Association. ** President of The Royal College of Physicians of Thailand, Secretary General of Medical Council. *** Member of the Royal College of ENT, Deputy Secretary General of Medical Council.
Think
There are many elderly doctors in Thailand who have had long experience of learning and
so are capable of bringing the academic side and the developed mind to explain the human nature very
well. They should be able to do this as the learned in other professions. Dear fellow elderly physi
cians, do you think you can recommend from all your learned years with real experience with appro
priate technology how we should spend each part of our life with happiness.
Endeavour
It is time that frequently doctors are not successful as they would have liked to be. However,
it is normal to believe that we are always trying, and that our I.Q., our brain, are able to solve all pro
blems, by finding the right and appropriate methods.
Education
As we are lucky to survive into old age we should thank heaven and god for the kindness
shown to us. We do not know how long we will be able to live happily, until 70-80-90 or 100 years
before we die. Therefore we should study and prepare to live happily in our old age. It is possible for
each of us to be careless but we should not allow that careless to give us hardship while we are still
active, because from now on the hardship that may occur will be harder to bear to the body and mind
than previously. Nobody can help us except the condolence showed by others.
The Development of Idea
The ability of body functions will decrease as we age but our brain and our intelligence
should be better developed. That is, if we know how to study, know the method and train appropriately.
Doctors, apart from learning from all experiences still should try to brighten the mind all the time.
Some elderly doctors may not have something that nature gives to younger people such as
estrogen hormone but nature can make that up with other things during our golden age which is expe
rience of life. This is a test and makes the mind stronger. From what we have learnt doctors can use
it to develop the mind further. Can we use the developed mind to make up for the decaying body.
Why do not you think that this is the way to change critical condition of life into a useful one in our
old age.
Is it a big problem?
The decaying of the body of doctors who grow older is similar to other people, for example
ladies during their menopausal years will have hot flushes, afraid that they will have reduced libido,
osteoporosis, fractured bone, atherosclerosis, forgetful, senile, dry skin with wrinkles, failing eyesight,
urinary incontinence, retention of urine, excessive and irregular menstruation. All these symptoms can
be compared to happenings in daily life.
Thinking of hunger when it is time to eat but do not, whether you cannot have nothing to
eat, or told not to eat. If you are a doctor, how angry and upset will you be? Doctors who are emotional,
show their anger without control, anxious, afraid, exitable, these are the ones who cause problems in
society because of their emotions only. If you allow your feelings to be uncontrol without reason how
will society be? You probably can remember of the saying "The cow and the twisted shortening rein
around the post" but you cannot think one day it will happen to you. You may forget to think that if
you were a cow how could you be human? Will somebody loose the rein and lead us away from the
post.
Keywords : Ethics, Elderly Physician
