Medical Ethics of Retired Physicians
Sukhit Phaosavasdi, MD*, Surasak Taneepanichskul, MD*, Yuen Tannirandorn, MD*, Boonchai Uerpairojkit, MD*, Vorapong Phupong, MD*, Manopchai Thamkhantho, MD, MRCOG*, Chumsak Pruksapong, MD*, Aurchart Kanjanapitak, MD*
Affiliation : * Member of Medical Association of Thailand
Observation has been made among our medical colleagues after retirement, is there any change in our life? How long does it take to adapt ourselves to the basics as a commoner. The personal habit and mood i.e. facial flush, starring eye, trembling voice, uncontrollable movement of hands and feet, mumbling, behaving like a deaf, smoking out of eye, ear, and nose. These scenes are very common when you are sun rise with full power in hand. All behaviors can be found wherever it is in the office or a number of media. Is it so frightening? Not as frightening as the person who is hiding and disguising her/his own feelings and exploding them out later. It’s a kind of revenge in some ways. As it has been stated “Not to trust anybody from outside, devil is within”(1). Approaching the 30th of September every year, some friends are lost and put the blame on aging process for the sake of forgetfulness. It can be an excuse. But not an excuse for overspending that can affect the whole family and their future live. They might think that, they are rich enough. If they can live longer than 10- 15 years, from 60 to 90 years of age, what will be the value of our assets in the next 30 years? Will that be enough for us to survive? Newly built home, brand new car with a grand party to celebrate retirement indicate extravaganze and ignorance, no vision for the future living. Any job to offer after retirement need to be very cautious, to risk with the aging and unhealthy employees. What can 80 year old employee do in the office instead of being a burden in the society? Behavior and ethics of physicians can be changed according to their age. In principle, the medical ethics should be sustained and unchangeable, but individually ethics of each doctor is in dynamic and comparatively moving in principle(2).
Keywords : Ethics, Retirement, Physician
