I REFER to Mr Wong Wai Kheong's letter, "Doctor just left the clinic, come back tomorrow" (my paper, Feb 14).

I am not a medical doctor but I think someone needs to stand up for all the family physicians. Family doctors are not "drug dispensers".

To the untrained, a runny nose or a headache may just be a small matter and simple medication such as paracetamol will do the job.

But a doctor will look at other things as well. For example,that runny nose may be the cause of the headache which may turn into a migraine.

Family practitioners play a bigger role than being "just the ones to see when we have a fever". They are responsible for uncovering serious medical conditions that sometimes appear to be a simple cough or cold.

A doctor who prescribes medicine without proper examination of the patient would never discover any underlying conditions.

It is, therefore, wrong of Mr Wong to suggest that the doctor could prescribe the cough medicine over the phone.

Since Mr Wong's son has been coughing for weeks, he might be down with another infection and would thus need new medication. It could also be something else.

I would rather trust a careful physician than one who lets the patient play doctor. Thank goodness Mr Wong's doctor did the right thing.

Besides, doctors have a personal life too and that has to be respected. If the patient goes to the clinic after opening hours, then any complaint is unjustifiable - unless it is an emergency condition.

I know a number of family doctors and, apparently, it is not uncommon for patients to arrive at the clinic just when it is closing or, worse, after it has closed.

Imagine this scenario: Right after you have left the office for the day, your boss calls you and tells you to go back to work.

Would you like that?

Miss Koh Wan Tin