No fear

Junior doctors are afraid of speaking to consultants. Everybody knows it, but no one wants to admit it.

I was phoned by the Surgical SHO yesterday. He explained to me that there's a surgical patient in his ward who suffered a heart attack post-operatively. This patient was then seen by one of my three bosses, Dr J, a couple of days ago. Dr J said he would come back to review, but had yet to return.

So I asked him, "I see..but what exactly you want me to do?"

He said, "Can you ask Dr J to review?"

I replied, "Yes I can. But why can't you do it yourself?"

Long pause. Then he said, "You are his SHO, aren't you? So I'm asking you to ask him"

Immediately I sensed another case of Consultants-are-gods-so-don't-bother-them syndrome. So I told him, "It's your patient. You want him to review, so you should call him. He's very nice and doesn't bite. I'm not your secretary either"

"FINE!!" And the phone went dead.

I must admit I used to feel intimidated speaking to consultants during the very initial period of my career. But then one day I realised they don't actually bite. They can be very nice (most of the time!). They are nasty only when you haven't got your facts right. For instance, if you want to discuss a difficult case with them, you better do some decent preparation before knocking on their doors. Make sure you have all the latest blood test and X-ray results. Believe me, they can become impatient very quickly if you keep on answering 'Sorry sir, I don't know'. I know this because I have been there before!

At the end of the day we are all here to do a specific job - to treat patients. Consultants are paid to give advices; hospital slaves are paid to carry out the task set by consultants. The latter, due to their seniority and level of experience, are bound to know less than the former. There will be times when they can't manage a case, and need senior help.

So my advice to my fellow slave is: Go ask the consultants. Don't let them sit in their lavish offices doing nothing. Make them work (like a true hospital slave)!