第十三类 医疗

01 Do you prefer experienced doctors or young doctors?

1.1 年轻医生

1.1.1 年轻医生更有耐心

I would go with the younger one. Younger doctors are way more patient than experienced ones, because they just graduated and want to use their textbook knowledge on real patients. So they are more likely to be more service oriented, and willing to devote enough time and energy to each individual patient. On the contrary, when I am talking to those experienced doctors, they are all very impatient. Sometimes they yell at me:“Just do as I told you!” They are far more rigid in their views and may not be willing to discuss patients' preferences, because they feel they know what's right. Also, because experienced doctors are extremely busy, they often do not have time, energy or inclination to sit down and talk to you patiently.

1.1.2 年轻医生在新科技的使用上更有优势

Young doctors can easily keep up with the latest technological advances. My father is a doctor. According to him, young doctors are comfortable using electronic medical records, which many experienced doctors in his generation can find frustrating to navigate. They're also very quick to research medical questions using various online resources and tools, while my father would typically go to his office and look things up in a textbook. Moreover, because young doctors are digital natives, they are often happy to communicate by email or WeChat. However, as for some experienced doctors, they just hate computers. For example, I used to have a doctor who was about 70 years old. He was a hesitant typist who preferred paper prescriptions. The problem was I could never understand his handwriting. Thank God, now, my doctor is a guy who is probably the same age as me. I can always get his prompt replies by email. Also, I can take home freshly printed data analyses to study by myself.

1.1.3 年轻医生在科学前沿

“Experience” may consist of doing the same thing over and over without changes. They tend to simply ignore medical breakthroughs and prefer to hold on to their old ways. And this might not best serve patients. We need new doctors who have the latest knowledge, because medicine is constantly evolving and few things remain static. In addition, although young doctors may not have much clinical experience because they haven't seen many patients, I think that any shortcomings in years will be offset by their willingness to go the extra mile for patients.

1.2 有经验的医生

1.2.1 有经验的医生检查更有针对性

I prefer more experienced doctors, because young doctors usually spend less time listening to the patient's story. Instead, they routinely order different kinds of tests, which literally cost thousands of dollars. However, experienced doctors often trust their clinical skills more and are able to use tests more selectively. Though some patients prefer doctors who order lots of tests, believing that they're getting cutting-edge care, I still think it's unnecessary. I just don't want to spend a lot of money doing different kinds of tests just because I am getting a very bad cold.

1.2.2 有经验的医生手术成功率更高

I prefer a doctor who has white hair, or at least a tinge of gray, especially when it comes to surgery! I just have more confidence and trust in elderly doctors, who have far more clinical experience, not just textbook knowledge. Studies have shown that the surgeon's experience is the most important factor in having a safe and successful operation. The more experience surgeons have, the better their patients' outcomes. Of course, quantity alone is not necessarily a guarantee of quality, but it is an indication of competency. My friend Deepa is a top student in medical school. He told me that younger doctors have more knowledge of new technology, but they easily start to panic when it comes to complicated or tricky situations. However, experienced doctors can maintain perfect calm to think about what they should do because they have faced it a hundred times. So, at this point, I wouldn't want to depend on my friend for a heart surgery. It's just too risky.

02 Do you agree or disagree with the statement that the government should encourage citizens to live healthier lifestyles?

2.1 Yes

2.1.1 省钱

Governments should encourage citizens to live healthier because it can save money in the long term. Currently, governments spend trillions of dollars every year on healthcare, and about half of that budget is spent treating so-called lifestyle diseases like diabetes and heart disease, which are largely preventable. For example, one city has eliminated fees for residents in city gyms. It cut expenditures for the city, but in the long run, it saves costs for treating chronic diseases that are associated with obesity. Some cities are also developing bike sharing systems, like Beijing. I got so excited when bike sharing services started popping up across Beijing. When you use the service, you don't even have to own a bike. All you need to do is scan a QR code and unlock a nearby bike, ride it for however long you want at incredibly low prices. Also, when I am cycling, it works my muscles from my ankles all the way up to my lower back. It is an efficient workout, as cycling gets my legs moving and my heart pumping without pounding my joints. All these are great examples of how governments can fulfill their responsibility.

2.1.2 这是政府职责，私人企业只想赚钱

It's governments' responsibility to encourage people to live a healthy lifestyle, because some people do not have self-control and some private entities make profits by taking advantage of this irrational pattern in humans. For example, every year, the average Chinese person eats 50 pounds of sugar, which is about 15 teaspoons a day. We ingest 8, 500 milligrams of salt a day, double the recommended amount, and all that comes from processed food. It's no wonder that many adults and kids are obese and have diabetes. However, companies today still actively market products that contain high levels of salt, sugar and fat. They profit from the natural human tendency to seek out highly caloric food. And this is where the government needs to step in, to set standards for the food we eat. For example, taxes on junk food may alter consumption patterns. And they can set standards on how many ounces of soda a business can sell. Changing individual behavior is only possible when it is supported by an environment that helps make healthy choices.

2.2 No

2.2.1 所有人应该一起努力

The govern ment alone isn't the solution. We all have to do our part to make ourselves healthier. For example, parents can put more fruits and vegetables on the table and teach children healthy habits. Schools can give more importance to a well-balanced and diversified diet, reducing the supply of junk food. Doctors can help parents and kids understand the importance of early prevention. Only when all of us engage in the effort can we live a healthier life.

2.2.2 健康靠自己

Living a healthy lifestyle is a matter of personal choice. In reality, the public is flooded with marketing messages regarding health and well-being. Restaurants respond to consumers' demand for nutritional information. Entire industries are built around the public's demand for diet and healthy living, from diet sodas to weight-loss programs. When people do not buy the“right” foods, this is not evidence of inadequate government intervention; it is evidence of choices based on complex personal preferences. If an individual has the determination to lead a healthy life, he needs very little help from the state. For example, I often have days that start early and end late, so, I try my best to find time to do exercise. I usually fit in a workout in the morning or at night. However, if a person does not have the intention to quit drinking even though he knows it's bad for his health, and then I think the government should spend more time and money reducing the air pollution and improving the transportation system, rather than persuading this alcoholic to stop drinking.