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"Why can't a patient be more like a doc?"
Considering the ethical dynamics between the physician and the patient, for example what is the ideal physician and what is the ideal patient, on August 5, 2004, I published on my "Bioethics Discussion Blog" the following satirical takeoff by Steven Miles, MD,Professor of Medicine and Geriatrics,Center for Bioethics,University of Minnesota (of course, with his permission) on a familiar My Fair Lady lyric.
====================================
A HYMN TO HIM
Why can't a patient be more like a doc?
Docs are so honest, so thoroughly square;
Eternally noble, historic'ly fair;
Who, when you win, will always give your back a pat.
Well, why can't a patient be like that?
Why does ev'ryone do what the others do?
Can't a patient learn to use her head?
Why do they do ev'rything other patients do?
Why don't they grow up- well, like their doctor instead?
Why can't a patient take after a doc?
Docs are so pleasant, so easy to please;
Whenever you are with them, you're always at ease.
One doc in a million may shout a bit.
Now and then there's one with slight defects;
One, perhaps, whose truthfulness you doubt a bit.
But by and large we are a marvelous lot!
Why can't a patient take after a doc?
Cause docs are so friendly, good natured and kind.
A better companion you never will find.
Why can't a patient be more like a doc?
Docs are so decent, such regular chaps.
Ready to help you through any mishaps.
Ready to buck you up whenever you are glum.
Why can't a patient be a chum?
Why is thinking something patients never do?
Why is logic never even tried?
Questioning me is all that they do.
Why don't they straighten up the mess that's inside?
Why can't a patient behave like a doc?
If I was a patient who'd been offered a cure,
Hailed as a miracle by one and by all;
Would I start weeping like a bathtub overflowing?
And carry on as if my home were in a tree?
Would I run off and never tell where I'm going?
Why can't a patient be like me?
======================================
Though the piece is purely satirical, do the readers of Medpedia including physicians themselves find anything here that might be worthy of serious consideration and discussion? ..Maurice.
====================================
A HYMN TO HIM
Why can't a patient be more like a doc?
Docs are so honest, so thoroughly square;
Eternally noble, historic'ly fair;
Who, when you win, will always give your back a pat.
Well, why can't a patient be like that?
Why does ev'ryone do what the others do?
Can't a patient learn to use her head?
Why do they do ev'rything other patients do?
Why don't they grow up- well, like their doctor instead?
Why can't a patient take after a doc?
Docs are so pleasant, so easy to please;
Whenever you are with them, you're always at ease.
One doc in a million may shout a bit.
Now and then there's one with slight defects;
One, perhaps, whose truthfulness you doubt a bit.
But by and large we are a marvelous lot!
Why can't a patient take after a doc?
Cause docs are so friendly, good natured and kind.
A better companion you never will find.
Why can't a patient be more like a doc?
Docs are so decent, such regular chaps.
Ready to help you through any mishaps.
Ready to buck you up whenever you are glum.
Why can't a patient be a chum?
Why is thinking something patients never do?
Why is logic never even tried?
Questioning me is all that they do.
Why don't they straighten up the mess that's inside?
Why can't a patient behave like a doc?
If I was a patient who'd been offered a cure,
Hailed as a miracle by one and by all;
Would I start weeping like a bathtub overflowing?
And carry on as if my home were in a tree?
Would I run off and never tell where I'm going?
Why can't a patient be like me?
======================================
Though the piece is purely satirical, do the readers of Medpedia including physicians themselves find anything here that might be worthy of serious consideration and discussion? ..Maurice.
asked May 30, 2010 at 03:42PM in Other
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2Votes
answered May 31, 2010 at 11:59AMI would say that we are all potential patients and how will we respond if the tables are turned? A great insight into the experience was written by Sacks (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Leg-Stand-Oliver-Sacks/dp/0330325108/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275331108&sr=8-1) in A Leg to Stand On'.
There is some literature looking at how doctors use their own reference point for advising on back care. Clearly it is important to remain objective and provide information and guidance to patients based on science and evidence as opposed to an opinion or view grounded in belief.
We know that the relationship between the doctor/therapist and patient is very significant. Creating the right environment for effective intervention can only help in working with body systems that are under duress and being modulated from higher centres that of course are also being cognitively challenged and responding to current stress on a background of past experience. -
1Votes
answered Jun 07, 2010 at 02:30PMI agree with Richmond that we are all potential patients. All doctors will become patients eventually or are current patients. I don't think there's an ideal doctor or ideal patient; we are all human. That being said, as a former breast cancer patient, it was very important to me that my doctors were kind, honest, ethical, competent and treated me as a fellow human rather than distancing themselves from me as a patient.
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The content on or accessible through Medpedia.com is for informational purposes only. Medpedia is not a substitute for professional advice or expert medical services from a qualified health professional.
Read more