Road

Dined with a group of senior physicians and met MT - a consultant of another hospital.

"We have much difficulty in recruiting new trainees. Most think that internal medicine is too difficult a nut to crack, and the few who are stupid enough would choose a university hospital !" He complained.

"Actually not very much better for us. Nowadays, every graduate seems to have a better offer than medicine." I said.

"You know, there's now a road to success in medicine ?" MT replied, smiling in a funny way.

"Indeed ... ?" I was curious.

"R for radiology, O for ophthalmology, A for anesthesia, and D for dermatology. Aren't they fabulous ?" He finished with a twist in his lips.

I made a bad hiccup - an ordinary response when human diaphragm tries to laugh and vomit at the same time.

PS. The reason for my unsightly response may skip your eyes. Not only are the four specialties of limited scope and lead a leisured life, but, more importantly, none of them require a genuine patient-doctor relationship. The former is merely a client who come for purchasing a service.

I shall not discuss the metaphysical implication.