Sept 24, 2008
Thursday

I mentioned earlier in the week the strike. The problem is, I think, a conflict between health care workers (i.e. nurses and technicians) who are on the public payroll, and those in the private sector. The government, like all governments infused with infinite wisdom, made a decision that has backfired. They, the government, decided to allow private sector practitioners to come to public facilities, like our hospital, to train and study. The hospital is a limited resource and those now working in it see this as an invasion of their turf. And I can’t say as I blame them. So like workers everywhere who are PO’ed they strike (or is it struck?)
When we arrived at the hospital on Monday, there were, say, two dozen nurses and technicians milling about at the front doors. Today, four days later, I’d guess at least twice that. Further, they had a look of steely resolve in their eyes. And of course there was media. And we all know that when media shows up and people get on television, well, that changes everything. And it did.

September 25
Friday

We had no patients this morning. The OR was empty. The halls were empty. There were doctors aplenty, however. But how much coffee can a doctor drink, really? By the afternoon there was a slight break-through and our interns had found enough sympathetic ears to come to our aid, ever so limited, but help out nonetheless with a patient. Tomorrow looks dicey at best. So, I have bailed and will be heading home a day early. Doctor Brody, like the professional he is, is staying the course, one more day in the hope that he can help the interns, patients and doctors at the hospital. I suspect he will find some way of imparting his experience, strike or no strike, one more day.