Doctor is an elderly altruist for the ages

Hu Peilan has worked in a community service center for more than 20 years after retiring from her hospital. XIANG MINGCHAO / FOR CHINA DAILY

"We need to do something good for our society no matter how old we are," says Hu Peilan, a 97-year-old gynecologist who still insists on working six days a week to serve her patients.

Hu arrives at her clinic, a 10-square-meter room in a community service center in Zhengzhou, Henan province, in a white gown. At about 7:50 am, the elderly gray-haired doctor puts on her black glasses and gets ready to start a new day. Many patients are expected.

People come here because of her reputation for kindness and devotion to her patients.

Yue Qin, 39, a patient from Henan's Pingdingshan, makes a special trip to see a doctor and comes to Hu's clinic to share her worries.

Yue has been on medication for a long time to control the symptoms of irregular menstruation but is worried about whether the treatment could have long-term side effects and wants to know the cause of the symptoms.

Hu listens carefully and suggests a check-up in an examining room next door.

Because of her lumbar disc herniation, Hu stands up slowly with the help of her assistants. It's a painstaking movement she replicates more than 15 times a day.

Tang Liping, an assistant who has followed Hu for 26 years, says Hu is patient-oriented and views them as relatives.