Counter-intuitive to start President’s Award for doctors

While Mr Francis Cheng Choon Fei has good intentions in suggesting that Singapore establish a president’s award for doctors ("Have President’s Award for doctors, too”; July 29), it is unclear if it will serve the purposes he envisages.

Doctors already receive plenty of recognition and are handsomely compensated by any yardstick.

By comparison, nurses are on a completely different pay scale. Though their duties are no less important, they work behind the scenes and are perceived as playing second fiddle to doctors. The President’s Award for Nurses is, thus, fitting to incentivise and recognise Singapore's Florence Nightingales.

Mr Cheng said a president’s award for doctors would help the community to identify the best doctors.

But word of mouth is arguably far more effective. A doctor who has messed up in the operating theatre, misdiagnosed, or is otherwise guilty of negligence, misconduct or malfeasance, can be assured that word will get out quickly, as he may be sanctioned by the Singapore Medical Council, for instance.

It is also questionable if lackadaisical doctors who are lacking in the integrity department can be unctuously persuaded otherwise by the thought of winning a president’s award, and that this will be enough to recalibrate their moral compass.

As enshrined in the Hippocratic Oath, a doctor's desire to heal the sick and save lives is ultimately born of a noble and higher calling: Love for and service to humanity, not expectation of reward or recognition.

Hence, a president’s award for doctors could be counter-intuitive.

I am reminded, for instance, of the late Dr Alexandre Chao, who died in the line of duty from severe acute respiratory syndrome during the 2003 outbreak in Singapore.

To borrow from the creed of the elite United States Air Force Pararescue operators:  “These things we do, that others may live."  

Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals are on the frontlines every day healing the sick and saving lives, so that others may live. They should all be respected and appreciated.

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