Friday, February 07, 2020

LEI MAN LEUNG KAI

Back in December a Chinese doctor noticed an alarming pattern of disease in the city where he worked, and posted a message to a medical chat group regarding those cases. December 30. Four days later public security hauled him in and forced him to sign a letter admitting that his actions had disturbed the public order.
Because, of course, public security officials know medicine better than doctors.

On 10 January he began coughing, the next day he had a fever and two days later he was himself hospitalized. One month after his public order disturbing chat group post, he was diagnosed.
30 January.

On Wednesday February 5, he passed away.

Which public security officials initially tried to deny. Because, of course, public security officials know more about death than doctors.
From December 30 till today, an increasing number of security measures have been taken. Some were firm, some were wise. There is concern that this newly discovered disease may harm the public order.

In response to the crisis, China has introduced more restrictive measures to try to control the outbreak. They are confident that they are capable of defeating the epidemic.


TRENTON ALLEY, CHINATOWN

Opposite the hospital where my doctor works is an alleyway I particularly like. When the afternoon sun hits just right, it is peacefull and pleasant to the eyes, soothing to the soul. After I see my doctor or have had medical tests done, I often end up there enjoying a quiet smoke, and observing the activity at the stores on the corner, elderly grandparents and little tykes after school, housewives hurrying home with groceries for family dinner. Currently it is named after the capital city of New Jersey (Trenton).
I have no idea why.


不如 ... 李文亮醫生如街


Sure, you may want to keep a name, which recalls the beautiful capital city of a state on the East Coast, with which it has no connection, but I think it would be rather a splendid idea to rename it as Li Wen Liang Street, so that Doctor Li will not and cannot be forgotten ... as public security officials might want to happen. Which will indeed have happened several years hence, when the authoritative account of this new medical crisis is finally written, filled with plauditory mention of the measures taken to control the outbreak. And maintain public order.

How appropriate if a street leading to a hospital were to be named after a doctor who did the right thing.

He was thirty four years old when he died.
He left behind a wife and child.
His wife is expecting.


Li Wen Liang Street.
It has a ring to it.



AFTER WORD

This is just a thought, I have no idea how to bring it to the attention of public officials. Like David Chiu, London Breed, Scott Wiener, Aaron Peskin, et al.
Other than posting it in a chat group.
A medical chat group.




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