Thread by @skinandall_

1. #deardoctors
Dear Doctors especially in Nigeria

Be professional at all times. Know your onions. There's always room to say, "I'll get back to you" or "let me check it up" for something you're not sure about. It is allowed. It makes you less prone to errors.

2. Dear Colleagues, recognize that your patients are not your friends except you have a personal relationship with them. Treat them with utmost respect but easy on the familiarity. As they say, it often breeds contempt. I write a lot (especially not medical)

3. because I find it therapeutic. It is my way of relaxing. But as accessible as I am, I would never consult here on social media. I teach about common skin conditions because I like to. But I would not be diagnosing and managing on social media. Please ensure that you don't too.

4. Sometimes, it is those you go out on a limb for, that end up causing issues for you.

Dear doctors, medicine is a dynamic field. Technology has made things so much easier. Your phones are there with internet. Use it. Read widely and continue to educate yourself else you'll be

5. left with insufficient knowledge. That is the reason why continous medical education is necessary.

Dear Doctors, it is within the rights of the patient to ask questions. It is their body afterall. Answer their questions as best as you can. It makes you look inept

6. when you evade questions.

Dear Doctors, recognize that there is a huge system failure which we are all suffering from. A good doctor does the best that he can. A smart doctor recognizes his limitations and refers when necessary. An excellent doctor does the two.

7. Be an excellent doctor.

Dear colleagues in the diaspora, do not be quick to cast aspersions on your colleagues here. You know the system you left behind. Someone called me a while back saying, "you know I really can't trust a lot of Nigerian doctors but I trust you."

8. Placing me on an imaginary pedestal while talking in a derogatory way about my colleagues. Remember how you left things. We are not the system. A lot of us are doing the best we can.

9. Dear colleagues, it is well within the patient's rights to seek redress if they feel they have been mismanaged. This is the era of 'fastest fingers' where people bring their issues to the social media 'jury'. If you find yourself in this situation where you are accused wrongly

10. on social media, no matter how tempted you are, do things the proper way. Don't be caught in a social media brouhaha. Use your devices wisely and don't fall prey to the ills of technology.

Finally, dear patients....ask your doctors questions. It is your right. If those

11. questions are not answered satisfactorily or your gut tells you something is wrong, seek another doctor.

On a final note, there are quacks and inept people in every profession. The health care system is not exempt from them too.

We will keep doing our best.