May the tribe of caring doctors increase
Life comes in different packages for different people. All of us go through days when we are faced with some bodily issues that throw up challenges. I had to undergo gall bladder surgery recently. This evoked memories and led to introspection.
One fine day, I had sudden pain in the abdomen and was advised an ultrasound. Our city’s reputed radiologist expressed the opinion that I needed surgery at the earliest. His concerned expression took me back to 28 years ago when I had gone to him. I was expecting my first baby and was referred for ultrasound by the gynaecologist. I stood there a shy and hesitant young woman. At the time, he had given me a broad smile and assured me that all was well. But this time when he said “immediate surgery” with worry writ large on his face, I got anxious.
I visited my physician brother-in-law, who patiently made me understand the complexity of the need to undergo surgery. As I sat in his clinic, he talked to the surgeon calmly and kept giving me a reassuring glances. Convinced, I underwent surgery the next day and by the grace of God am on the path to recovery.
Today, I look back at the entire episode and am filled with a sense of gratitude for our doctors, God’s apostles, right from the radiologist to the physician and the surgeon. Their reassurances, words of solace and strength helped me sail through.
The way the radiologist spoke to me with a little bit of chiding accompanied with support and sympathy worked like medicine. My physician brother-in-law reasoned with so much patience that I found myself ready for surgery with a strong mind and relaxed body. The assuring words of the surgeon that it’s an easy procedure and that I will be back to my routine within a week had a healing effect on me.
There is no painkiller as effective as love, no medicine as soothing as cheerful counselling, and no medical tool as powerful as the reassuring words of a doctor. At night, I slept like a piece of log, relaxed and restful.
Medical science has made many advances but as humans we want empathy and equanimity during treatment to heal the mind and body. The doctor-patient relationship forms the foundation of contemporary medical ethics. I’m happy there are still doctors who render service to humanity by counselling the patient to make peace with the ailment and the treatment.
A doctor’s care boosts the patient’s morale, has a positive effect on the psyche, improves the well-being and enhances cognitive capacities. Being a doctor is not simply about having an understanding of anatomy and sickness rather it is about having an understanding of true wellness and intensity of a patient’s emotional need to care, cure and comfort.
May the tribe of such doctors increase!
THERE IS NO PAINKILLER AS EFFECTIVE AS LOVE, NO MEDICAL TOOL AS POWERFUL AS THE REASSURING WORDS OF A DOCTOR