April

Despite being both preventable and curable, tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide and is the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent.[1] In 2017, an estimated 10 million people developed TB disease globally, resulting in an estimated 1.6 million deaths, with 300 000 of those deaths occurring in people living with HIV.[1]

In May 2010, the Canadian Medical Association passed the following resolution: “The Canadian Medical Association supports the use of random breath tests (i.e., MAS) in existing police spot-check programs, as part of a comprehensive plan to reduce drunk-driving related mortality and morbidity in Canada. Any such programs should be consistent with the protections in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”

Being a doctor is no walk on the beach. Certainly it’s rewarding work and it’s a privilege to serve others, but recent headlines suggest that we have had sand thrown in our faces:

• The public is told that nurse practitioners can provide the same care as family doctors.[1]
• Naturopaths are legitimized through funding to treat patients after a car accident.[2]
• Some pharmacists want to give a diagnosis and then sell the treatment.[3]

When 1 July 2018 came around, I had done the countless paperwork and paid my dues. I finally got the okay to venture into the world of family medicine on my own. It was, and still is, an exciting time, but also a terrifying time. I spent the first few weekends of this monumental year thinking about all the cases I had seen the week prior and second guessing myself about some. I ended up calling several patients to check on how they were doing, and most of them were, first, surprised I called and, second, usually doing better, and if not, there was a plan of what to do next.

I have spent over 25 years of my life as a family physician in Langley and have seen many changes in my community during this time. The population has more than doubled, resulting in increased traffic congestion, commercial areas, infrastructure, and recreational facilities. Langley now has every big-box retailer known to Western civilization, including Costco, Walmart, Home Depot, and the Real Canadian Superstore. What was previously a quiet drive into the central core is now a stop-and-go traffic light adventure. Despite this, Langley has been good to me.