|
1992 Start Makes Scott
Dean of Expat Docs
Dr Gavin Scott is proud to claim seniority among the foreign
medical practitioners in private practice here, having first been
registered as a private physician back in 1992.
Today, Scott practices at his Tropical and Travelers Medical Clinic
at 88 Street 108, where he sees a steady stream of backpackers
referred by the nearby guest houses, plus his regular clientele of
NGO workers, young families, and other residents of Cambodia.
Travelers felled by some local breed of bug or virus are often
referred by their hotels to Dr Scott, who has seen about every
ailment that flourishes in this part of the world.
Scott’s lengthy experience has made him one of the city’s
recognized experts in diagnosis of everything from dengue to
dysentery, malaria to AIDS.
He administers a range of vaccinations, against hepatitis A and B,
Japanese encephalitis, meningitis, cholera, polio, rabies, tetanus
and typhoid, depending on where people are heading. He also offers
pregnancy tests and tests for sexually transmitted diseases.
“I am a British-qualified general-practice specialist,” he
explains, explaining the BSc, MB, ChB, DRCOG Dip Ven (UK) letters
that follow his name. His Cambodian partner in the practice, Dr So
Kean Tek, has MD and M.Phil (UK) qualifications.
Scott can be outspoken about the need to take care when choosing a
physician. “Most people give more thought to selecting their
breakfast cereal in the aisle at Lucky Supermarket than in choosing
their doctor,” he asserts. “Phnom Penh is full of physicians and
clinics and many of them offer a particular area of expertise. But
it is important to choose the right person for your particular
problem, so people should question if a doctor has special
qualifications in an area such as urology or pediatrics rather than
just go to consult someone a friend has recommended.”
As a matter of practicality, Scott advises potential patients to
look first at whether a doctor’s office displays his or her
professional diplomas and degrees. There is little control over
practitioners in Cambodia, but it is possible to contact the embassy
where the practitioner is registered and the people there should be
able to verify the professional qualifications.
Scott also has advice for people who have to go to a hospital as a
matter of urgency. Be advised, he warns, that many otherwise
excellent facilities are not well staffed in the evenings or
overnight. If you have an accident at night, he recommends, choose a
private clinic with a good reputation, rather than a hospital whose
best doctors may work only during the day.
And one last stern warning from Scott: If you ride around on motos
and have a brain, keep that brain intact by wearing a helmet. No
excuses, just wear it.
—Elizabeth Wright
|
