Some people think being a GP is like running a vending machine for medicine — you walk in, describe what’s wrong, and out pops a pill.
But the truth is, general practice is a lot more complicated (and less automated). Behind every capsule and blood test lies a GP quietly calculating risks, checking possibilities, and occasionally wondering when exactly we last finished our coffee.
When I prescripted any medication, it’s not a lucky dip. Every medicine comes with thought, experience, and a touch of worry — the good kind.
We consider allergies, interactions, organ function, and the fact that your aunt’s “miracle supplement” from the internet may interfere with everything else.
What looks like a quick scribble on paper is actually a small piece of diagnostic algebra involving years of training and many sleepless nights. We never push drugs for fun or profit.
That’s the big difference between a GP and, well, everyone else. Yes, plenty of people share health advice — some excellent, some harmless, and some that could land you in A&E faster than you can say “Abracadabra.”
A GP, however, carries legal, clinical, and moral responsibility for every bit of advice given. We don’t just diagnose; we stand accountable for those diagnoses. If something is missed or misread, it’s on us — not on Dr TikTok or Grandma May’s chat group.
Even ordering a blood test isn’t as simple as it looks. GPs don’t do tests just for fun (though some patients think we have shares in the lab). Each test must have a reason — to confirm, rule out, or monitor something.
Ordering tests blindly wastes money and may lead to panic over tiny, meaningless numbers. Every result tells a story, and it’s our job to translate it — preferably without giving you unnecessary grey hairs.
At its heart, being a GP is about people, not pills. It’s about balancing science with compassion, and medical judgment with a dash of humour to make the waiting room a bit less anxious.
We deal with everything from broken bones to broken hearts — and yes, sometimes broken Google diagnoses too.
So, the next time you see your GP, remember — behind that calm smile is someone juggling medicine, reasoning, paperwork, and the occasional existential question about whether anyone actually drank enough water today.
Being a GP isn’t just about dishing out medication. It’s about caring deeply — with responsibility, humanity, and, when appropriate, a good sense of humour.
Dr Pearl Leong is a general practitioner based in Kuala Lumpur.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
