We need to accept our failure as doctors

Why do we want to become doctors? What was our main motivation that we have written in our motivation letters and repeated in our interviews? Regardless of the specific incident or the general motivation, it can be all summarized in one sentence: We are here to save lives. After all, this is what the physicians do, isn’t it? Preventing deaths is actually hinted to by the original Hippocratic Oath, written between the third and fifth century B.C. through the following: “Neither will I administer a poison to anybody when asked to do so … Similarly, I will not give to a woman a pessary to cause abortion.” According to the socially accepted norms, the sanctity of life must be preserved by doctors, regardless of the situation. Unfortunately, when it comes to personal experiences, these slogans are shattered, and the moral rules, that were considered sacred, are questioned. Around two years ago, my grandmother was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. The drugs she used to take before this diagnosis had their obnoxious systemic effects, leaving her with joint pain, myalgia, and decreased appetite. Add to that the symptoms of liver cirrhosis: jaundice, esophageal varices, spider angioma, caput medusa, anemia, edema … one by one, the symptoms started appearing, as the books and the online sources described. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Physician Hospital-Based Medicine Palliative Care Primary Care Source Type: blogs