The Song
of the Physician
This is what we do. What we
strive for. Our calling. The cross we bear. We are martyrs to our craft. Our
world is one of parallels: sickness and health; life and death. We walk a thin
line between probability and actuality. Our life is comprised of the demands of
our profession and that of our personal life. Godlike perfection is demanded,
as we are required to wield years of knowledge and skills effortlessly. In the
days of yore, we were called healers, shawmen. Today, we are known as
physicians – health care providers… those of the white cloth.
The Song of the Pre-Med/Medical
Student
“Why do you want to become a
doctor?”
This question plagues us, the
moment we answer the call of Hippocrates: the problem isn’t with formulating an
answer – anyone can come up with a response – the challenge is finding the
heart behind the answer. Harry Potter may have Hogwarts, but his "Expecto
Patronum" can kiss our Primum Non-Nocere's ass, because Lord Voldemort's
magic can't compete with the binding spell of the Hippocratic Oath. We are the
inheritors of the white cloth, and our path makes the Forbidden Forrest look
like an arboretum. Our decision to become a physician wasn't made lightly. The
road to becoming a doctor isn’t smoothly paved and lined with trees filled with
singing birds. Often times, its dirty and mind numbing. It’s a sacrifice of the
largest proportion, and doesn’t offer any sympathy to those who have chosen to
brave and endure medicine as their profession.
“Why do you want to become a
doctor?”
The human experience is more than
mechanical functions of the body. It transcends physical and mental aspects of
life, and is ornately spiritual. Wealth and fame are not what draws me to the
profession of healthcare: the human will to survive when all the odds are
against it, and be successful, is the fuel to the fire that drives me to pursue
a career in medicine, as a physician. I want to be a part of the drive to find
ways that improve quality of life, not to “fix” things that aren’t necessarily
broken; to be an ally and confidant to future patients. I want to be the
physician who looks for methods of treatment outside of the norm, because I
recognize that the norm isn’t always effective.
I want to be a doctor, because
being anything else is not only unacceptable, but unfathomable. Being a doctor
allows me to do what comes naturally: teach those who seek knowledge, care for
those who either struggle or are unable to care for themselves, and okay,
attempt to make things better – even if it’s with a simple smile and warm, “Hello,
how are you feeling today?”
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Today is National Doctors' Day.
On March 30, 1933 (also the anniversary of the day anesthesia was first
administered to a patient, by Dr. Crawford W. Long in 1842 - huzzah!), the
wife of Dr. Charles B. Almond, Eudora Brown Almond, endeavored to set aside a
day to honor physicians. The first observance consisted of a few doctors’ wives
putting together a luncheon for the local physicians, and placing flowers on
graves of deceased doctors. Then, on March 30, 1958, the United States House of
Representatives adopted a resolution to celebrate Doctors’ Day. In 1990,
legislation was introduced in the House and Senate, which received overwhelming
approval, to establish a National Doctors’ Day. March 30th was then designated
as a day to honor physicians, nationwide for their commitment to caring for the
community.
So, what does the twenty-first century U.S.A. do to
honor its doctors? To be completely honest, I was shocked to learn of today's
significance - it's not exactly a holiday comparable to those of Easter,
Valentine's Day (or, as I prefer to call it: National Singles Awareness Day),
Halloween, Christmas, etc. etc. Therefore, I can only hazard a guess that
health care corporations use it as a day to kiss their physicians' asses -
ahem: appreciate the lack of a usurp of power from the suits to the
white lab coats....
As in:
"Oh mighty Order of the
White Cloth, wielders of the knowledge of the ancients, please accept our
offering of artery clogging/diabetes laced feast, as well as paper cut inducing
cards from Hallmark, in an attempt to atone for our 'sins'.... We humbly (cough, cough) acknowledge that your profession's judgment is
superior to our own, and we deeply regret (cough, cough) the effects our
indifference toward what's best for the doctor-patient relationship in pursuit
of the almighty dollar/ACA compliance, has had. Please accept our 'sincere'
apologies, as we will make joint effort in ensuring the days that follow, are
the best the Kingdom of Healthcare has ever seen (snicker; cough, cough)..."
Okay, okay - that may have been
embellished (though I highly doubt by much). At either rate, not much is
done on a mass scale to let our doctors know that their sacrifice is
appreciated. The men and women that enter the ranks of medicine, do so at the
expense of their personal/family life, sacrificing years of potential earnings
to amass 200-300k of student debt in order be able to take care of others.
Physicians endure years of education, training, abuse, etc. to have the
privilege of serving their community during both the darkest and brightest of
times.
It is truly a great privilege to be entrusted with the task of caring for
others. Despite the presence of bad apples, which is true for every profession,
the majority of doctors - though one might not always see it - do enjoy what
they do, and couldn't imagine doing anything else. It's hard to not be affected
by the lives of patients, and it's nigh impossible to separate oneself from
what is taking place and continue on with the day's responsibilities.
Therefore, as a
"professional" patient of a stupid amount of doctors, who will one
day join the "Order of the White Cloth", I wish to thank all those
involved in my care....
Thank you for spending time
unknown, racking your brain as to the identity of the cause of my health suck.
Thank you for not treating me as
case #fuckiveseenalotofpatientsinthespanoffifteenminutes.
Thank you for teaching me,
encouraging me, and fighting for me.
Thank you for not treating me as
that "pain-in-the-ass pre-med student", as I incessantly probe your
brain/ask questions.
Thank you for seeing a person,
rather than statistics/lab values.
Thank you for being sincere,
honest, and open.
Please don't ever succumb to
society's unrealistic expectations for your profession: don't give up/burn out.
Fight as hard, if not harder, as you did to get your MD/license to practice.
Use that determination - that grit - to do has much good as possible, in spite
of all obstacles. If you find yourself slipping into a deep abyss, please
recognize that it's perfectly okay to take care of yourself first and seek
help. Although you are a doctor, all doctors are human beings; therefore, be
kind to yourself. Take your own advice when it comes to self-care.... In other
words: love thyself.....
You are more than the sum of your
abilities, more than a name on payroll, and certainly more than the target Big
Pharma/the Government/etc. has on your back. Remember that, always. However,
recognize the moment your frustration/anger infects every aspect of your
practice and either take actions to reverse it, or, hang your stethoscope and
get out before you bring harm to your patients. There's enough of that going on
already, please don't add to it. Don't be a statistic. Let your legacy be one
that the junior doctors/students
will mimic.
Thank you for everything - I know
it's not easy. *hugs*
