Medical profession loses appeal in China

BEIJING - China's medical workers are frustrated with their jobs, and they even discourage their children from joining the profession, according to a new survey.

DXY.CN, an online medical science community, conducted a survey among 3,860 medical workers and found that 90 percent of the participants would not choose the profession if given a second chance.

Some 58 percent of the participants said they would strongly discourage their children or friends' and relatives' children from applying to medical school.

Only three percent of the total said they recommend medical studies and another 36 percent remained neutral, saying they respect their children's will.

The survey found that an insecure working environment was the leading cause of these attitudes.

Wu Yan, who is responsible for handling doctor-patient disputes in a hospital, told Thursday's China Youth Daily that she would not allow her daughter to study medicine because it is a "very dangerous" job.

A worsening working environment, as seen in the rise of doctor-patient conflicts in recent years, has severely weakened medical workers' sense of achievement. In certain extreme situations, doctors have even been hurt or killed by patients or their relatives after unsuccessful medical treatment.

Earlier this year, an otolaryngologist in Qiqihar in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province was killed by one of his patients, who claimed to suffer discomfort after he was discharged.

Medical workers said a lack of respect from patients, intensive workloads and low pay also contribute to the unwillingness to practice medicine.

Young people in China's higher-learning institutions are also shunning medicine as a major, a choice that may be influenced by family members.

Some experts have warned that China's medical system will face a talent shortage, jeopardizing the general standards of the medical system.