A former emergency room doctor reflects on the long hours, high pressure, and lack of safety nets over his career in China’s medical system
My former classmate, a guy named Shi Liang, used to be a doctor in the emergency department of a major hospital—classified as a “Grade A tertiary hospital,” the highest rank in China. In those days, you could hear him frequently saying things like, “For ER doctors, technique is something we can develop, but our constitution is where our natural talents lie. You see those of us with decades of experience? I’m telling you, those folks got some excellent genes.”
Shi Liang himself didn’t fare too badly in terms of this so-called “natural gift.” His health was decent enough. In fact, back in high school he was the linchpin of our basketball team. Then, he joined the ranks of health care professionals and his circadian rhythms turned upside down for the next seven years. His most intense night shifts had him working for no less than 14 hours; he wasn’t sure how he survived.
Then, at the peak of his career, Shi Liang faced a vital crossroads and ended up hanging up his white coat for good. Everyone was puzzled, but he simply said, “I cherish my life over my job.”
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