Giving Medical Advice on a Personal Level. The Impact of a Simple Question.
What would you do Doctor?.....
Let me be clear from the beginning that I am not a Doctor. If you have read my previous posts you know that I am a Physician Assistant and I take great pride in that. But often times patients don't understand the difference. When you receive your Medical Degree you also simultaneously receive immediate respect from most people. Patients recognize the time and knowledge you have put into your profession and place you high on a pedestal as an individual that has a valuable opinion. So when a patient calls me Doctor, I of course correct them, and then I feel honored to be confused with such influential people.
What would you do Doctor?......
This is a question that I hear frequently. And it's impact resonates inside of me. It is that moment when a patient asks me to stop speaking to them from my programmed scientific mind and reach into my personal self for the answer. The patient sitting across from me trying to decide if chemo therapy is the best option to treat his lung cancer or if the fact that the surgeon said the entire tumor was removed is sufficient enough of a treatment. They ask me to step into their lives and FEEL what they feel, if just for a moment.
What would you do Doctor?......
It is a question that I both dread and look forward to at the same time. It is a moment when my heart both stops and leaps from my chest simultaneously. I feel an enormous obligation to say exactly the right thing at that moment. My medical dialogue is backed by proven theory and experiment but my personal opinion seems meaningless. What if I say the wrong thing? What if I say the right thing but it is misinterpreted? What if I don't know what to say? It is a time of self examination and a time of extreme vulnerability. What would I do? Why does that matter? Yet to that patient, at that moment, the entire world revolves around my response. And I am reminded that some day this will be me on the other side of the exam table asking my trusted practioner "what would you do?" And I hope that they will pause before answering and consider....the impact.
It is amazing to hear how such a simple scenario can affect us all. Great to know such people still exist; those that realise the impact they have on others.
Keep the posts coming
Thank you @minnyfatty. I appreciate the positive feedback. It is such a big responsibility that the people in my profession have to their patients. I love being a part of it.
Certainly giving a "right" answer in such complicated cases is very complex and puts us in a position to say "right" (what we read in books and learn during the race) or if we give a personal opinion that gives us a A criterion learned during the practices of medicine for so many years and many examples lived. I have always said that it is best to tell the truth, so it hurts, because it is the only thing that can resolve doubts or anguish, yes, in cases like the example of lung cancer, you should have a lot of tact when talking to him Patient or family members. Many times the patient only seeks to stop someone from turning the matter around and finish telling him what the reality of the matter is and what they should do, what are their risks and possibilities of everything going well. In conclusion, the truth lies in you, in your learned knowledge, and lived experiences, be as clear as possible but without offending or hurting succeptibilities. Good job Doctor! I send you a hug!
Thank you @jekramos. It is ultimately the truth that I hope to pass on to my patients in the most caring understanding manner as possible.
Every effort and job well done always brings good rewards and is not necessarily monetary! You are a great person, that shows in the way you write, do not lose your north!
Very thoughtful post! You are my favorite person to ask medical advice ;-)
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Thank you @jodiegolier. You are my favorite everything.
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Must be tough to work in medicine because one mistake can be dangerous. You need nerves of steel for that.
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Being a doctor myself I fully understand your point of view. Its not easy to handle the inquisitiveness and expectations of patients and their attendants. But here is the situation where the long training as a physician come in to play. Nice point.
Thank you very much @drsupriya18. Nice to hear from someone that can relate. What an incredible profession we have that patients value our opinions so much. I am truly humbled by it every day.
Very thoughtful post!..
thank u..
Thank you for taking the time to read it @ichsan83.
Yea while i was in pharmacy school i would get called a Doctor all the time when i gave patients advice.
Followed you!
Thank you @izmini. There is so much comfort in that title. Even after multiple times correcting a patient they continue to call me Doctor. And I know they do it because of the great amount of respect they have for Physicians.
It must be extremely difficult to give a patient bad news. How heartbreaking for both you and the patient.