Confessions of a Hospital Slave, Part II
“The essence of all slavery consists in taking the product of another’s labor by force. It is immaterial whether this force be founded upon ownership of the slave or ownership of the money that he must get to live.”
- Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy
It was in March that I first wrote about the “irregularities” I experienced as a medical resident in training in the hospital. Perusing the post, I feel that I’ve stated much of my views already on what is needed to be corrected in the system. And in a way, a lot of events have already occurred since then. Sadly, however, nothing much have changed.
A number of unaccomplished discharge summaries are still there. It took several months of having to stay overtime just to finish writing and even asking help from other co-residents. An agreement was made that the more senior residents can help the junior residents finish the number of charts, in time for the next Philhealth accreditation, provided that a certain amount of the junior residents’ salaries will be split among those who helped write the discharge summaries. A large volume of the unaccomplished charts soon diminished and it was, for a time, fair and well, as the junior residents begin receiving again their monthly salaries. However, because we still continue with our duties (everyday 8 hours or more in the hospital and 24 hours every 3 days), the charts began piling up again. Some had to resort to “other means” just to finish writing the charts. However, I do not have financial means to go that way. So I remain buried in those unaccomplished charts, and currently, without salary. My ATM card (the one used to receive salary from the hospital) was blocked and they did not even consider that I STILL HAVE THE REST OF MY MEAGER SALARY OF THE PREVIOUS MONTHS IN IT THAT I HAVEN’T WITHDRAWN AND OF WHICH I’VE ALREADY RIGHTFULLY RECEIVED. And the 13th month pay, which is not actually a salary, but a bonus, IS ALSO PUT ON HOLD. The condition, of course, for being able to get back all these “benefits” is that I should finish all said charts.
But what is it again that I’ve read in the Labor Code?
