(Minghui.org) I am a retired physician, and I have been practicing Falun Dafa for 21 years. I follow the Falun Dafa principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in my daily life and as a physician.
Not Taking Bribes
It is common practice in China for doctors to take bribes from patients and to receive kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies. Master Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa, teaches practitioners to be selfless and to live by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Therefore, I was strict with myself as a physician. I did not take bribes from patients, and I did not accept payment from pharmaceutical companies for prescribing their drugs.
Unfortunately, patients in today's China don't seem to trust doctors who don't take bribes. They are afraid that without the monetary incentive, the doctor would not take care of them or treat their illness with great care.
A family insisted that I accept their money before I operated on their relative. They said, “We don't have confidence in you unless you take the money.” I accepted the money to stop them from worrying. The operation went well, and I returned their money before the patient was discharged from the hospital.
I told them, “I practice Falun Dafa, and Master Li wants us to put others first. We practice Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and I hope you can respect my belief.” They took back the money and said, “We have never met a doctor like you who truly cares about the patient.”
This is how I treat all my patients, and after some time, I gained their trust. Because I did not take any kickbacks, some pharmaceutical companies worried that I would not prescribe their drugs.
One of them came to visit me with a very expensive gift. I said, “I practice Falun Dafa, and I do not accept gifts or incentives from drug companies. Please rest assured that I will prescribe your drugs if they are effective and suitable for my patients.”
This company noticed that I prescribed their drugs even though I did not take their kickbacks. As a result, I eventually established a trusting relationship with pharmaceutical companies. I later became known as the “unusual doctor” who did not accept kickbacks, and I gained their respect.
My colleagues knew that I practiced Falun Dafa. They said they admired me but they could not do what I did. I think in today's China, only doctors who practice Falun Dafa are able to let go of their self-interest.
Master said,
“One can be a good person at different strata, and one can practice cultivation at one’s own social level.” (Zhuan Falun)
I have tried my best to follow Master's teachings in my medical profession throughout the years.
Falun Dafa Gives Me Health and Wisdom
My moral character improved as I practiced Falun Dafa, and I became healthier as well. I had constipation for years, and it went away after I took up the practice. I felt light and energetic. I often worked the night shift and saw patients the next morning, yet I was not tired.
Many young doctors did not have the energy I had. My colleagues and I worked at our counterpart hospital in Qinghai for six months in 1997. Qinghai is a province spread across the high-altitude Tibetan Plateau. Many colleagues experienced altitude sickness, headaches, and insomnia. I did not experience any of these symptoms. Thus, my colleagues saw the health benefits from practicing Falun Dafa.
Falun Dafa taught me to let go of attachments to personal gain. I did not care much about my reputation and self-interest, and I put others first. To my surprise, I discovered that my medical expertise improved, especially my diagnosis and treatment skills.
I was successful in helping patients and treating difficult illnesses. Because of my professional reputation, many patients sought me out, and my colleagues referred their patients to me as well.
I had more and more patients. I often spent half a day treating outpatients and did not get off work until after 2:00 p.m. Because many patients traveled from distant areas, I did not mind getting off work late so that I could accommodate them.
My sister lived abroad and saw my name on the Internet. She said, “You are well-known in your field of expertise. Patients gave you very high ratings and compliments.” I did not know about this, nor did I care about it. I treated my job seriously and my patients with care and sincerity.
Master said,
“Yet it is not for you to become a pioneer that the Buddha Fa has given you wisdom. You have attained it because you are a cultivator. That is, you are first a cultivator and then an expert.” (“Validation” from Essentials for Further Advancement)
I know that this is the result of following the Dafa principles and improving my medical ethics. Master Li then gave me the wisdom to be a good doctor.
Remaining Conscientious and Steadfast in My Belief
Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), launched the persecution of Falun Dafa in 1999. My husband was a local volunteer coordinator for a Dafa exercise site and was thus considered a “key person” by the CCP. He was illegally arrested many times and taken to a brainwashing center, detention center, and forced labor camp.
I was investigated by my employer. I had to talk to the authorities and was threatened many times. My house was repeatedly ransacked by the authorities. I was also followed whenever I left the house, and my home phone usage was restricted by my employer.
I held to my faith despite the suppression and continued to practice Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I did not miss a day of work, and I was responsible and kind to my patients.
Many colleagues did not know what had happened to me and my family. But the director of my department knew about it and said to me, “I really admire you!”
After I retired, the hospital rehired me because of my work ethic and reputation. After my husband was released from the forced labor camp, my department wanted me to persuade my husband to give up practicing Falun Dafa.
They threatened to fire me if I did not cooperate. I refused to follow their order and gave up my high-paying job of 40-plus years, as well as my patients. I heard later that many patients asked about me at the hospital. Some patients also asked online, “Where did the good doctor go?” The hospital staff told them I had retired.
I have benefited greatly from practicing Falun Dafa. I am not wrong in holding on to my belief or in being an ethical doctor. The persecution cannot shake my determination to follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
(Submission to “Celebrate World Falun Dafa Day” 2018 on the Minghui website)
