Dr X (not named for ethical reasons), obstetrician and gynaecologist Age: 45.
Career path: I grew up in Hong Kong and finished secondary school in Dover and then went to the University of Dundee to study medicine. Medicine was something I drifted into, half my parents' wish and half mine, I think. Doing obstetrics was also a fluke because it was the speciality that had places after my internship, so I took it. I found it exciting because it enabled me to practice medicine and do some surgery.
After qualifying as a doctor I went to Inverness to do my housemanship and then to Raigmore Hospital for my senior housemanship. After that I went back to the university teaching hospital in Dundee where I spent a year specialising in obstetrics before moving on to one of the peripheral hospitals where I qualified. All in all, it took about 10 years to become a qualified obstetrician and gynaecologist. I then worked in Aberdeen. I spent 16 years in Scotland.
Coming back to Hong Kong was a fluke. The University of Hong Kong was looking for a temporary lecturer and so I took the job. I missed Scotland and found it a real culture shock being back here and I couldn't stand the politics. So after two years, I went to a government hospital. I stayed there for two years then, in 1993, I opened my own practice and found my niche. I am really busy now.
Dr X's day: Deliveries can't be planned. I try to operate (planned caesareans) in the mornings and then do ward rounds before going to my clinic, but obviously I have to drop everything when there is an emergency.
There is absolutely nothing nine-to-five about this job - I never know if I will get a whole night's sleep. This is difficult, especially after a hard day's work, but I'm not complaining. Weekends and public holidays are also not sacred. I think I had a delivery every day over Lunar New Year. I do, however, try to take regular holidays and plan at least nine months ahead because I have to let my patients know if I won't be here for their delivery.