doctor memoir Archives - THE ROVING DOCTOR

Added on July 20, 2021 Foundation Year 2 , General Surgery

General Surgery – First Day

II.I.I FIRST DAY The beginning of my second foundation year felt a bit like a fresh start. I’d be working in general surgery once again, but this time round I’d be doing it in a different hospital, on the island of Gozo. Gozo happens to be Malta’s quieter, greener, and more introspective sibling – an island that moves at its […]

Added on July 20, 2021 Foundation Year 2 , Journal of a Junior Doctor

START OF FY 2

START OF FY II One year over and done with, another one to go. I was looking forward to this year more than the previous one – for many reasons. First of all, I had managed to get most of the rotations I wanted, which included my two favourite specialties: neurosurgery and emergency medicine. You see, whilst neurosurgery was always […]

Added on July 18, 2021 Foundation Year 1 , Orthopaedic Surgery

Orthopaedic Surgery – Journal Entries

I.IV.V JOURNAL ENTRIES Journal entries from my rotation in orthopaedic surgery: Mr Hippie had a hip replacement last year. He has full mobility in his hip, except when he does this one specific movement that kinda hurts. While demonstrating this movement to a friend, Mr Hippie dislocated his hip. Mr Chaos is pretty pissed at Blair. She’s always late and […]

Added on April 27, 2021 Foundation Year 1 , Orthopaedic Surgery

Ex-Mother

I.IV.II EX-MOTHER Much like my time in neurology, this rotation proved to be a relatively easy-going one. I mean, yeah, sure, we did have our busy days, but I don’t ever recall staying later than my normal working hours – except for those pesky on-call shifts that would have us taking care of all orthopaedic patients and their medical issues. […]

Added on April 18, 2021 Foundation Year 1 , General Medicine

General Medicine – Journal Entries

I.III.VI JOURNAL ENTRIES Journal entries from my rotation in general medicine: We’re on patient 12 out of a long list of 23 to review on the wards when Dr Sugar gets a call that a twenty-something-year-old guy who was admitted after taking a cocaine overdose was unstable. We speed-walk to the other side of the hospital and find the unconscious […]

Added on February 16, 2021 Foundation Year 1 , General Medicine

Good Doctor

I.III.V GOOD DOCTOR It was during that rotation that I realised I wasn’t as good a doctor as I thought I was. And that was all thanks to Dr Sugar. In fact, what follows is something akin to a love letter to her. From now on, whenever I mention her, I want you to picture my eyes all teary with […]

Added on January 26, 2021 Foundation Year 1 , General Medicine

Time of Death

I.III.II TIME OF DEATH You know, having watched so much TV, read so many books, heard so many stories… I’d always thought I was kind of impervious to death. Like I’d already gotten used to it. It’s a natural part of life, no big deal. It wasn’t until I started working as a doctor that I actually began coming to […]