A doctor is a consultant, which does not mean that he can impose his decisions upon a patient, but he can suggest and guide his patient to the proper decisions, to help him take the road to recovery.
Source/Credit: Public Opinion
By Amatul Khalid | May 13, 2016
In my 31 years of medical practice, I have felt humble and helpless at times. At other times, I have felt accomplished – or felt I could have done better.
Doctors are just human beings who sometimes can provide a cure by reaching a right diagnosis at the right time. We can alleviate symptoms most of the time, but always can provide comfort.
My grandfather, who was a physician, once said: “By becoming a doctor one should never forget that he is still a human being who has limited power in his hands, the rest is in the hands of the Creator. When treating and curing someone never think that you solely who have accomplished this - it is God who guided you in the right direction to help the patient at the right time. It is wrong as doctors start thinking that we can make a person live or die. Actually, the Omnipotent God has all the capabilities to guide one to the correct doctor, the correct diagnosis and the correct treatment at the correct time. However, if it is not in the fate of that patient to live or get better, things will keep going wrong from different directions, no matter how much effort you put in.”
He also said that, “When we chose to become a medical providers, it becomes imperative upon us to a patient feel better through compassion and empathy. If you have empathy and sympathy toward the patient, your heart will bow down with your soul in front of the Creator to ask for guidance and that empathy and prayer will result in healing for the patient.”
A believer is not supposed to associate anyone with God, but as human beings we associate so many gods with our Creator in our daily lives. When a doctor cures a patient and feels proud of his accomplishment, he or she is thinking that he did it on his own. Unfortunately, that is when the ego takes over and makes one feel superior to others, resulting in arrogance that can lead to destruction of empathy and sympathy. When a patient tells me, “You you made me feel better,” I humbly respond that I am just a human being - God is the one who guides us in the right direction.
A doctor is a consultant, which does not mean that he can impose his decisions upon a patient, but he can suggest and guide his patient to the proper decisions, to help him take the road to recovery. When a patient is involved in making decisions about a treatment plan, there is higher chance of compliance and trust, and that results in positive outcomes.
On the other hand if one sits in the consultation room in front of his patient and commands his patient to follow his orders, the patient will feel intimidated and may or may not follow the treatment regimen. Hence, humbleness and humility and putting yourself in the shoes of the patient to bring empathy to the relationship can promote compliance.
Another important factor is trust. If there is no trust in any relationship it cannot last; it is true for this noble relationship as well. If we don’t trust our patients as a doctor, or don’t trust our doctor as a patient, the result is failure. Mutual trust is built on true and honest communications. For the doctor it means trusting the symptoms of your patient and believing him; and for the patient, trusting the judgment of your doctor and following his recommendations.
During my nursing home rounds many years ago I was told that a homeless patient wanted to go to the ER. He was declared incapable of making decisions and living independently during his last hospital stay. The nurse suggested that he did not need to be seen by a doctor - he was exit seeking and thought he could go home from the ER.
I decided to evaluate him. He told me he had pain in his chest that needed surgery and he should be sent to the ER. I ordered an EKG and after reviewing his EKG, even though it was minimally abnormal, I decided to send him to the ER. The ER sent him back after ruling out myocardial infarction, but next morning he was found dead.
The moral of the story is to always trust and listen to your patient, whether they are considered drug seeking, exit seeking or doctor shopping.
Practicing ethical medicine is imperative in a doctor-patient relationship. Most importantly, medical ethics rules are enacted for the benefit of the patient and should always be paramount in all decisions by a medical provider.
In short, the practice of medicine gives us an opportunity to earn heaven in both worlds if it is approached and practiced with the intention of helping humanity.
Sadly, physicians often feel hindered by the fear of being sued, and we end up practicing defensive medicine - over diagnosing and over medicating which ultimately harm the patient. Patients who abuse the system by doctor shopping and drug seeking end up manipulating this noble relationship, and doctors become the headlines of prime-time news.
Where is the boundary line? How can we fix this system so we can have a pure, trusting, loving and caring doctor-patient relationship full of sympathy and empathy.
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Dr. Amatul Khalid is a Chambersburg physician.
Read original post here: Perspective: Practice of faith strengthens doctor-patient relationship | Amatul Khalid
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