The patient – doctor relationship is unique among human interactions. In many ways, it is as protected as that between individuals and their spiritual advisors. And the physical intimacy it allows, and even encourages, is beyond that of most other human relationships.
In their encounters with one another, in sharing confidences and accepting intimacies, both patients and their doctors display the broadest range of human emotions and behaviors.
Medical diagnoses are important, because it is usually symptoms of illness that bring patients and physicians together. The curing of illness, the management of chronic health conditions, and the alleviation of pain and suffering are the underpinnings of medical practice. But in pursuit of these goals, the entire spectrum of human thought and action may become evident.
The knowledge, science, and technology of medicine have changed drastically since the time when these patient encounters took place. The systems of healthcare delivery are very different, as well. But the underlying idea and ideal of the practice of medicine have not changed materially. They are perhaps still best described by the remarks of Dr. Francis Peabody, almost 100 years ago: The secret of the care of the patient is in caring for the patient.
This blog recounts experiences of one physician with a solo cardiology practice in the borough of Manhattan, in New York City. The patients are real, the diagnoses are real, the details are real. Out of thousands of encounters, the ones discussed in this blog were chosen to demonstrate how complicated human interactions can be, how differently people react to difficult situations, how the best and worst of human behavior can emerge in the course of medical practice, and how what starts as a medical encounter can illustrate lessons and principles for living. There are humor, pathos, sadness and, fortunately, happiness. In other words, there is the complexity of life.
Every effort has been made to disguise the identities of patients and others in the blog. If you do guess at someone’s identity, you’ll probably be wrong. A few encounters that might have been especially interesting and illustrative were left out because masking the true identity of those individuals would have been too difficult.
I learned so much from my patients through the years of caring for them. I have the utmost respect and affection for them. And I feel privileged for the opportunity to be the physician in their patient – doctor relationship.
I hope you feel that in reading this blog.
The Patient Was... 