Medical Officer Dies, Allegedly From Overwork

Another public health care physician passed away, and her family blamed her death on excessive workload from lengthy on-call shifts.

According to The Star, on June 27, Dr. Ch’ng Hooi Ping, a UD43 medical officer from the pediatric unit of Seberang Jaya Hospital in Penang, was discovered dead in her vehicle in the parking area of her place of employment.

According to reports, the 31-year-old physician was discovered with fluid in her lungs. A week prior to her passing, she had received the findings of her final paper for specialized training.

Acute pulmonary edema was determined to be the cause of death in Dr. Ch’ng’s post-mortem report.The abnormal accumulation of fluid in the lungs is known as pulmonary edema.

“As far as we knew, she had no history of illness,” Dr Ch’ng sister, named simply as Dr K, told The Star.

She also mentioned that there were no indications of her sister being bullied or experiencing mental health issues.

According to Dr. K, who left the public health service following the death of her sister, doctors may put in up to 30 hours while on call.

“Our on-call system is such that we have to come in to work at 8am in the morning and we can only go back the next day. Usually post-call is until 12pm, but we usually don’t go back at 12pm. If you calculate it, the working hours typically extend up to 30 hours,” said Dr K.

“She has been putting in long hours for several years. I have experienced it myself, and I couldn’t take it too. I don’t think anyone can take it (in the long term).”

Dr. K, a former medical officer at another Penang public hospital, claimed that her sister’s passing was the last straw for her, who was also suffering from burnout. Dr. K is currently working locum.

“My intention is to help the doctors in the Health Ministry. I think most of them are burnt out and tired,” she said.

“We have been grappling with the shortage of housemen and medical officers. Some medical officers are doing both the roles of housemen and medical officers. It is too tiring. Some of my friends are also depressed due to the long working hours and heavy workload.”

According to reports, Dr. Ch’ng’s family is suing the hospital where she worked for compensation.

Dr. Tay Tien Yaa, a chemical pathologist in the Ministry of Health (MOH), committed suicide on August 29 in her 30s before Dr. Ch’ng’s family made the news. At Lahad Datu Hospital in Sabah, the young UD52 specialist physician oversaw the chemical pathology unit within the pathology department.

Recently, Dr. Tay’s brother voiced his lack of trust in a task team established by the MOH to look into her death, which her family blamed on bullying at work. Borhan Dollah, a former director-general of the Public Service, is leading the six-person inquiry team.

Dr. Tay’s mother told China Press that the family, who had hired attorneys, was looking for justice and the truth about her daughter’s suicide rather than money.

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