Monday 7 December 2009

A brownie in the oven.

I find myself in an interesting and unexpected moral dilemma. A non-local family living in the area have asked me to provide them with antenatal care through their pregnancy until they travel to Cape Town for the delivery. This in itself is not the dilemma (actually it's my job). What they do however want is to be seen consistently by the same doctor at specific times (dictated by me) rather than join the potentially all day wait in OPD and see whoever happens to be free. In so many ways this doesn't seem to be an unreasonable request, it's what most women in the UK expect. However, it isn't what is done here so would be providing special services for people because they are friends (and make excellent chocolate brownies). I guess ultimately it's like providing a private medical service (with the payment in cakes not cash) and I don't know how comfortable I am with the inequality in health care that that represents. On the flip side, the concept of providing medical care of a standard I feel is good, rather than just about acceptable, with some level of continuity, really appeals to me. And they are exceedingly good chocolate brownies.
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6 comments:

  1. Unknown7 December 2009 at 23:56

    Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
    Take the brownie girl - I think you deserve it! I would find being stuck on one of your on calls by myself harrowing, let alone all the other experiences you've had - WOW! Thought I'd see what's been happening out in SA and have been hooked on the blog for the last hour! Looking forward to your presentation at the VTS when you get back! Keep up the great work - Vic.

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  2. Anonymous10 December 2009 at 01:31

    oh for crying out loud woman when this perpetual social justice/marxist trait draw to a close?!!!

    Are you not doing enough for the poor SA's already? Are you going to jeaopardise anyone elses standard of care by seeing these people? Are you going to stop doing the horrendous on calls risking life and limb to look after people because of a bleeding brownie? No.

    Are you even being paid the right amount yet? Probably not.

    Take the brownies. Take their cash. Take their tickets for a concert, their wine, their villa in St Lucia and enjoy one of the few perks that have come your way in about 4 months.

    Take their car (although if they have any sense they won't let you).

    Or alternatively just continue with this guilt ridden self-flagellation and pointless denial of the joys of an unctuous, sweet, gooey brownie.

    I'm not putting my name at the top of this. You know EXACTLY who this is.

    xx

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  3. cybercrone14 December 2009 at 07:50

    Well, just to counter all the friendly rah-rahs already posted, your thought on the inequity is right on.
    Providing a good standard of medical care is the goal of course, but it should be for all, not just for the privileged.
    The world in general, and Africa in particular, has been buggered up enough by inequity.
    And if those people are at all smart enough to be parents, they will give you brownies anyway, just so you don't make them wait longer . . . or worse <(^o^)>

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  4. Oliver14 December 2009 at 16:25

    What in all that is holy is a 'friendly rah rah'?

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  5. Julia17 December 2009 at 19:37

    Am I the only one who thought you were initially using highly non-PC and somewhat inappropriate language?! Jules x

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  6. kel30 March 2010 at 20:07

    i kno whow all this turned out, but reading it with priveledge of hind sight i think you did the right thing....

    now that you are addicted to those brownies, feel free to pop into the tea room at emoyeni, they serve them their and they are the same recipe....

    PS - I love the fact the your time in the Vuum has changed the way that you see the world.... it is a better view from where you are now

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