Do your best: PM Lee

May 16, 2009

Do your best: PM Lee

		Students must also learn to operate under stressful medical settings. --PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong spelled out five reasons why doctors have to do their best, professionally, ethically, and as a compassionate human being, in their chosen vocation.

'Then we can keep on raising our standards of medical care, and improving the lives of all Singaporeans,' he said at the Singapore Medical Association's 50th anniversary dinner at the Fullerton Hotel on Saturday night.

RELATED LINKS Speech by PM Lee

In his address, PM Lee acknowledged that medical schools have the enormous task of preparing future doctors for this challenging profession.

'Equipping students with the requisite medical knowledge is itself an arduous undertaking, but it is not enough. Students must also learn to operate under stressful medical settings, and most of all, imbibe a deep sense of humanity and compassion,' he said.

'As we update our medical school curriculum to include all the new knowledge and skills that students must absorb, something has to give. Our future doctors must still learn about the human and emotional aspects of doctoring, and will have to do so in other ways, as they progress through medical school and beyond.'

The five reasons on why doctors, despite having a difficult job, must do their best as given by Mr Lee:

First, they have to be perpetually learning and relearning, to keep abreast of the flood of medical knowledge that is expanding day-by-day, at least in their area of specialty.

Second, they must always do what is best for the patient.

'The patient has the final say, but he relies heavily on you for advice. After all you are his doctor, and you know much more about his condition and about medicine than he does,' said Mr Lee. 'So patients always say 'doctor's orders', and never 'doctor?s advice'.

'So your advice must always be honest, well-founded, and based on what is in the patient's best interest.'

He also urged doctors to use their position of authority to counsel and badger patients to tackle the problems underlying their medical conditions.

Third, doctors are expected to uphold the highest ethical standards.

Said Mr Lee: 'To be a good doctor you must not only know medicine well, and be able to diagnose and treat conditions. You must also have integrity, recommending treatments or drugs only when they are necessary, and not because you will gain financially from it.

'Take a broad view of your role, especially if you are a leader in the profession. Do not focus only on servicing your own patients, but also mentor younger doctors who are still learning their craft, and teach them the skills, values and ethos to become good doctors in time.'

Fourth, doctors need to have a good systems view of the whole healthcare system.

'It is inherently difficult for a doctor, trained to do what is best for individual patients, also to think in terms of what works for the whole medical system. These are two different casts of mind and disciplines of thinking,' explained Mr Lee.

'But the soundness of the medical system makes a big difference to the overall healthcare outcomes of the country. Doctors need to understand this, to appreciate what the constraints are, and how their own contribution fits into the whole. Only then will the whole system work well.'

Fifth, doctors must value the human relationship between doctor and patient.

'The mission of a doctor is not simply to heal illnesses but also to treat patients. This requires respect and empathy for your patients and their families,' said Mr Lee.

'You must not only treat the physical ailments, but also lend a sympathetic ear to your patients and respond to their need for reassurance and emotional support.'

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PM Lee: MPs must always care

May 16, 2009

MPs must always care

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said, 'For MPs, like doctors, must not only try to cure - and in fact not all cases can be cured - but must always care.' --PHOTO: ST

MEMBERS of Parliament, like doctors, must not only try to cure - but must always care, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong exhorted them on Saturday night.Speaking from his own experience at meet-the-people session for his residents in Teck Ghee, Mr Lee said these sessions - which are called clinics in Britain - were the closest he has come to practising doctoring.

RELATED LINKS Speech by PM Lee

'The residents come to see me, their MP. They come one case after another, each problem important to him or her, each one seeking advice, assistance, and a solution, preferably immediately,' he said in his address at the Singapore Medical Association's 50th anniversary dinner.

'I am conscious of their high hopes, and of the limits of what I can do. I have learnt the importance of good bedside manners, and found that even when I cannot solve my residents' problems, lending a patient a listening ear will often help them unburden themselves and feel better.

'For MPs, like doctors, must not only try to cure - and in fact not all cases can be cured - but must always care.

'There is great wisdom in the ancient medical aphorism - 'To cure sometimes, to relieve often and to comfort always'.

'So each time I finish a Meet-the-People session, I leave with a greater admiration for doctors, especially GPs or polyclinic doctors who see patients in this way every working day.'

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STTA SAGA: Amicable end likely

May 16, 2009

STTA SAGA

Amicable end likely

Ex-coach Liu, officials have 'cordial' meeting although Ms Lee absent

By Terrence Voon
		Former national table tennis coach Liu Guodong waving to the media at the Meritus Mandarin hotel yesterday after a two-hour discussion with STTA officials. He is in town to seek clarification over remarks STTA president Lee Bee Wah had made about him. -- ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN

A PEACEFUL resolution is on the cards for ex-national table tennis head coach Liu Guodong and the Singapore Table Association (STTA), after the two sides finally met face to face on Friday.

The two-hour meeting - which centred around recent comments made by STTA president Lee Bee Wah about Liu - was not the fiery showdown that many had imagined it would be.

Instead, both parties claimed the discussions were 'friendly' and 'cordial', and expressed hope that their dispute would be settled amicably.

Liu, 35, had flown in from China on Thursday with fire in his belly after learning of Ms Lee's remarks in the press last week. He claimed the remarks had besmirched his character and reputation. He wanted to meet the association to clarify Ms Lee's comments.

The Henan native got his wish on Friday, when the STTA rang him up to arrange an appointment with STTA chief executive Chew Soo Sheng and honorary secretary Soon Min Sin at the Shangri-La Hotel later in the day. Ms Lee was not present at the meeting.

After the discussion, Liu met reporters at the Meritus Mandarin, and said: 'During the chat, I conveyed my request (for clarification) to them.

'But we haven't finished discussing yet, and we will arrange another meeting again tomorrow.'

He was reluctant to reveal what transpired during the meeting, but said that there was a 'high chance' that his request for an explanation from the STTA would be granted.

When asked about the mood of the talks, he said they were 'cordial and friendly'. The STTA struck the same tone. Said Soon: 'We were happy to have a frank and friendly discussion with him.

'We agreed that we have to close the case and move forward, so we will continue to liaise with him and discuss further. The important thing is to settle the issue.'

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Aware has never had a 'gay agenda'

May 16, 2009
RESPONSE TO DPM WONG KAN SENG
Aware has never had a 'gay agenda'

WE WELCOME Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng's comments and his reiteration of the vital importance for all groups in Singapore, whether religious or secular, to live and let live, to exercise restraint and show mutual respect and tolerance.

Mr Wong noted that homosexuality was 'clearly a major issue to both sides'. We would like to point out that homosexuality has never been 'a major issue' for the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware). Our stand, throughout the 24 years of our existence, has been identical to that of the Government.

We agree that the heterosexual family is the norm for our society. But homosexuals are also part of our society and they should be able to live freely and happily, free of any discrimination.

It must be made clear: Aware has never promoted homosexuality.

It is most regrettable that some people in Singapore now have the impression that Aware has a 'gay agenda'. This is totally unfounded. The allegation of a 'gay agenda' was made by Dr Thio Su Mien, and the team of women she handpicked to join Aware and take over its leadership, on the strength of bits of information taken out of context and strung together to create an imaginary and inaccurate picture of Aware's activities.

This unhappy episode, and the many wrongful allegations made during it, have damaged Aware's reputation and insulted the many women and men who, over the last 24 years, have worked so hard to improve the lives of women in Singapore and our society as a whole. Sadly, the allegations and the misperceptions continue in online forums and other channels.

The current Aware executive committee is already moving on. We have an expanded membership to reach out to and we are putting together our programmes for the year. We are confident we will be able to put this episode behind us and continue with our work.

Dana Lam (Ms),
President, Aware

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NMPs should not become subjects of debates

NMPs should not become subjects of debates

WHEN the Nominated MP (NMP) scheme was introduced, the aim was to pluralise views and opinions in Parliament. Moreover, there was concern that People's Action Party MPs would not be put to the test of parliamentary debate.

Today, the scheme is strongly rooted in the nation's political process. It has come to the point where 'campaigning' takes place in the media. In the press and cyberspace, the battle to be heard without electoral accountability is heating up as Parliament seeks new representation under the scheme. That it now attracts a wider pool of groups and organisations, as well as individuals, marks its acceptance as a recognised political stage to be heard.

The scheme has opened Parliament to a number of leaders from different fields. At least one NMP pushed through a Bill one can argue is beneficial to Singaporeans at large. For this, the scheme should be applauded.

However, in the next round of nominations, the scheme could admit individuals or organisations that represent a very small group of Singaporeans or challenge the socio-religious fabric of society.

While either of these resonates well with the spirit of the NMP scheme, they are socio-politically contentious. To conclude that Singaporeans are not socio-politically mature enough to handle diversity of this nature - hence the opposition to certain organisations or individuals - is not right. In fact, it is politically incorrect to say so, and some might argue insensitive too, for if we were, we would not have this discussion.

Singapore society is anchored in two very sensitive dimensions - namely, race and religion. Regardless of the socio-political maturity of Singaporeans, priority must always be given to maintaining the status quo on matters of immediate concern to this balance.

While Parliament is the stage to capture, deliberate and act on diversity in society, where relevant to the nation's well-being and progress, it should not be used as an open market to trade views and opinions of anyone and everyone. There are many other forums and platforms to champion specific interests. If issues are important enough, they will eventually make their way to Parliament.

I urge those who have stepped forward to be nominated to reflect. Will you be the subject of debates in Parliament and outside? If you will, why should taxpayers pay for you to be debated?

Mohd Aminudin Buang

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NMP UNDER ATTACK: Online postings immature and inflammatory

May 16, 2009
NMP UNDER ATTACK
Online postings immature and inflammatory

AFTER reading yesterday's report, 'NMP candidates attacked online', I went online to check those comments. What I read sounded alarm bells in my head.

I will not seek to authenticate the charges filed by these people online, which I read on the Government's Reach portal. However, charges that Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong is pro-gay just because he supported the original members of the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) were immature.

The comments are emotionally charged and will inflame the public. They consist of words that seek to polarise society and mobilise the masses to support them. This reminded me of the racial riots in the 1960s, when the masses were mobilised based on emotional rumours. Why does the Reach portal allow such inflammatory postings to remain? I dread to think of the consequences should people be led to believe the charges by these so-called 'pro-Singapore, pro-family' posters.

The report highlighted 'astroturfing' - the creation of a fake grassroots movement - which the Government should note. I frequent several online forums and in most, I seldom encounter these 'pro-family' comments, and comments on social issues are usually civilised and polite. But in forums that are perceived to reach out to the masses, there are many rude and inflammatory comments.

Such postings may have persuaded the authorities that the online community is immature. But should they venture into other forums, they will realise that most Singaporeans are polite in cyberspace, and many of the so-called 'majority' views are from a very vocal minority.

From the viewpoint of my younger generation today, Singapore society is not that conservative, but 'astroturfing' may suggest that it is very conservative.

I urge restraint among Singaporeans. Judging someone's credibility based on his sexuality and stand on non-discrimination, is shallow.

We should assess these candidates' overall performance. They have a great desire to serve Singapore and should be allowed to do so without interference by false or emotionally charged comments online.

Lester Lam

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Give credit where credit is due, STTA

Give credit where credit is due, STTA

GIVE credit where credit is due. That is what I feel the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) should rightly do now over its refusal to nominate Olympic medal-winning coach Liu Guodong for the Coach of the Year award.

The paddlers surpassed every Singaporean's expectations by winning the silver medal at the Beijing Olympics.

This medal is what Singapore has been awaiting for 48 years and now that it has been achieved, we are all running away from the man behind this achievement, the coach.

I do not wish to hear comments from other countries that Singapore discards its coaches once its target is attained. This is wrong and does not reflect the overall sentiments of Singaporeans.

Khoo Lih-Han

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