Just came back from hospital where I had the good fortune to be sitting beside the doctor when the patient started crying. For real. Tissue paper and a glass of water had to be prescribed. And not just for any reason, rather that the doc (according to her) actually took time to examine her, sit her down and talk to her about her concerns and reassure her. Made all the more special as she came from a long way off and it wasn't the first doc she'd seen for her problem. What made it even more weird was neither the doc or i expected it to happen, as he'd just done a particularly invasive/intimate exam, with a med student present. Not something you'd want to thank your average doc for, admittedly.
When the patient left, the doc told me that everything really depended on comm skills, that ppl liked it when you cared, that even if you treat them, the real treatment starts when you talk to them right at the start.
Well, he did tell me that, but only after he said the only reason he was able to spend so much time with her was that she was the last patient for the day and another failed to keep an appointment, thus freeing up a slot. Sometimes, he said, you just have to make do with what time you have and hope its enough. A consultant whos willing to be honest with his peons. Inspiration of the day - check!
3 more subspecialities to go.
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