Reaction Article # 12

According to Some Hidden Choices in Breast Reconstruction, breast reconstruction is a surgery to rebuild a breast’s shape. For those women who get breast cancer undergoing mastectomies, the plastic surgeon perform the operation offering a result that looks like a breast can be a first step to establish their self-confidence. However, many reconstruction patients didn’t be informed by their doctor that there are some promising new operations they can choose for breast reconstruction. The doctors didn’t tell the patients about the new information because not all surgeons have trained to performed the procedures and the complicated surgeries are less profitable for doctors and hospitals.

Unfortunately, that kind of condition also existed in Taiwan. A lot of doctors don’t perform the new or complicated procedures for their patients. Besides the two factors mentioned above, another reasons are time and legal problems: the doctors are getting busier in their work since the national health insurance program was launched so that they have no time to learn or practice new surgery; the doctors also considered that if they failed in performing the operation, they would be sued by the patient or the patient's their families. We all know that the patients have the right to gain enough knowledge that they can choose what their options might be, but the doctors have their stand against it. It’s no use forcing the doctors to do what they should.

Governor should encourage the doctors to perform the new or complicated surgery by some ways. In my opinion, the doctors who perform new or complicated surgery should be encouraged by giving a higher pay or by offering a good position. Of course, the most important thing is that the doctors should always keep their declaration --they will practice their profession with conscience and dignity, the health of their patient will be their first consideration -- in their mind at the time of being admitted as a member of medical profession. (315 words)