WITHOUT the WHITECOAT
Specialization... the human touch
When I got a word from a colleague about some complaints that I wrote about the state of medical practice in this city, I was so alarmed and just kept on thinking for days. Then, I told myself there are still a lot them out there that still read my articles. The true essence of the writer or journalist is mostly viewed from the articles that he writes.
All medical practitioners in the city of Iloilo may not share things in common especially on the principle on how they view their medical practice. Some may have noticed a handful of the medical practitioners in the city of Iloilo had been bitten by the "bug" named " CARE" and that they are trying to bring life to Medicine - spreading the Joy of Caring that seeks to improve the patient-physician relationship and encouraging family and community involvement in the care of the human being in the healing process.
There is one thing that I would like to share with colleagues in other specialties though our beliefs may be different. " If you treat a disease, you win or you lose. But if YOU, as the physician, treat the person. Then I'll guarantee you'll win."......( Hunter "Patch" Adams). That is what one aging orthopedic surgeon had been preaching. It is the relationship between the patient and the physician that really counts.
Due to the intense progress and advancement of the medical field, a lot of specializations were opened to address certain specialized organ systems like the lungs, kidneys, and endocrine but there was one thing missing. As the specialization becomes too technical, the patient is now viewed as a piece of organ system. The human touch is now lost in taking care of the patient.
We have viewed them as a room number or a disease entity. We have totally forgotten that it was the human being who have the disease. Some of my colleagues may not like what I am doing since some of them have their own priorities in life. Other specialist may complain that they are being hit but as one colleague states it: " Bato-bato sa langit ang maigo huwag lang magalit."
We can be specialist in our fields of endeavor. And yes, we really work so hard to get that "diplomate and fellow" title that are being added to our names. No doubt about it. But what are we hiding from the world? What we have to show for the patient is that we can really care for them, not promising any cure or treatment. I know couldn't change the world to make it a better place for our patients but at least I tried. For my patient that had a pulmonary malignancy, I know I made a big difference because I showed that I care.
Specialization is very good but we should remember that the patient in front of us is a human being. As a physician, we should make a difference in the lives of our patients. Oftentimes, personal fulfillment comes in. You may call me a hypocrite. Yes, we all need the monetary rewards from our practice. Just a word or two: " indi man sagi kuga ang inyo pasyente".
In this day and time, we all know the hardships in life. It is just a matter of giving a little. We don't have to charge a patient 10,000.00 pesos for a simple I/D. It may not reflect the views of some of colleagues. Some may despise the kind of journalism that I do (May be just to tap them on the shoulder. Just a simple reminder: Remember there is nothing that we, medical practitioners, can hide from the outside world. That is the reason why the only people that reacts violently to this column are those affected. (They do think the're the ones). I do respect them. For those who think that way, I paved for them to have their views in this column. Don't be so "plastic" on your views and smile when we meet face to face. You can always tell me off.( I do really appreciate that.)
If we all believe that we all can make a difference in this world of ours, then our patients will just be smiling towards their diseases and illnesses. As doctors, we may lack some of that "human factor" that should have make a big difference.