Say what you may about Nigeria but amidst the difficulties, it never fails to dish its citizens quality entertainment. Every day, a new controversy or debate rages online, and unsurprisingly, problematic discourses are the first choice of entertainment for many people. It is the online culture in Nigeria. Someone may want to talk about something funny that happened at work or raise questions that could lead to serious arguments. In the end, all na cruise. We know where such discussions take place, the place dubbed the ‘Home of Cruise’ – X.
Noble apprentices of Hippocrates are not left out of the fun. Whether it is contests of ego or professional solidarity, you will surely find medical doctors and students there. However, the peculiarities and ethics of the medical profession demand that certain things not be talked about online. There is a reason medical images are usually censored. There are also reasons why we don’t talk about certain things that happen in the clinic. Anyone who does not have a medical background or clinical experience will most likely misinterpret some conversations. For medical professionals and doctors in training, there is nothing like “We listen, we don’t judge”. You shall be judged! It is simple – if you misyarn, you will be misheard.
An example occurred recently when a fifth-year Medical student, X user @jayy_ayofe tweeted, “How do you expect me to be good at O&G when for every 4 in every 10 patients that present in gynae clinic, I am excused from examinations just because I am a guy and the patient’s rights have to be upheld?”. For context, O&G means Obstetrics and Gynaecology, a speciality primarily concerned with women’s reproductive health. Medical students take O&G rotations in their fifth year and it’s one of the most technical specialties. While this might have been a well-intended complaint about impediments to medical education, for most people it represented the trivialisation of people’s privacies and a sense of entitlement to their bodies, a sentiment that was unwelcome to most. The problem was further compounded by the never-ending feminist vs misogynist debate. This particular conversation raged on for days with multiple arguments on both sides of the divide.
Later, a spin-off of the tweet referenced above created another rogbodiyan. In it, a female doctor (X user @FEMMY466) posited that many female doctors weren’t interested in becoming gynaecologists. Her reason? “O&G is too messy”. Her opinion was not well received and the said doctor was attacked for days about her remark about the body of women seen as derogatory. The solidarity from fellow doctors did little to lessen the severity of the attacks.
Another interesting round of conversations ensued when a Nigerian doctor tweeted that breastfeeding is a must. While most people are familiar with the proven benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, most netizens had a problem with the delivery. The eventual dragging that ensued encapsulated everyone who lays any form of claim to the medical profession.
If anything, these conversations show that doctors and medical students cannot afford to talk about their work and study the way everybody else does. We live in a country where people view clinical medicine with scepticism, believing it is simply a way to extort money from people. Some people rather listen to auxiliary nurses than medical doctors with several years of experience. Conversations like this will simply worsen the situation, leading them to alternative healthcare which may lead to complications that medical doctors will have to deal with.
Utmostly, ethical standards demand professionalism and sensitivity. Medicine involves personal information and conversations like these can damage patient trust, while also potentially threatening patient confidentiality. Medicine is a noble profession; medical students and doctors are often seen as role models to students and workers in other professions, alike. Conversations like this continue to negatively influence the public perception of medical students and doctors. Perhaps, it is time for medical doctors and students to take caution about what they speak about online. It is now, a matter of importance, to find a balance between health education and casual conversation.
Yusuf Akinyooye