what now?

at the clinic today, a weak-looking man came in for consult. he looked like he was in his 70s but when i checked his record, he was just 60 years old. the lines on his face and his small frame plus years of living in poverty made him look older than he really was. he was having a little difficulty breathing so i didn't ask him too many questions, instead, i asked his daughter for the necessary information.

as it turned out, the patient was already seen by another doctor in a government hospital a few days ago. some laboratory exams were needed to be done but they didn't have the money for it. neither did they have the money to buy the medications prescribed. and so they went to the clinic to ask for financial help.

it's so sad to see patients like these who, because of extreme poverty, could not even afford to get sick. but it's sadder that the government could not...or is it would not...do anything about it. so they turn to other agencies, such as the place i'm working now, for assistance. but most of the time, whatever help they get, is not enough.

as a physician, it's frustrating to see patients, who after diagnosing the problem, ordering the necessary work-up for confirmation and giving the prescription, comes back to you, worse than the previous visit, with no labs done and no medications taken. in those times, all i can do is say a little prayer that somehow, they would get better.