My whole life, I have tried to fix people. I rack my brain to come up with a solution for my loved ones when they have a dilemma. All too often, none of them are viable solutions. For example, a friend is working at a job where she is profoundly overworked. I suggested that she put her own limits on how much she can do, and on how much notice she needs to complete a project. This same friend is still being overworked (turning down all of my oh-so-brilliant suggestions). It's extremely frustrating to me when people I know and love have problems that I can't fix, which leads me to wonder - what happens when I am a physician and people come in with problems I can't fix? In neurology (my specialty choice of the day), physicians are often confronted with patients with problems they can't fix. These are extremely devastating neurological illnesses that even with our technology now, we just can't cure. Occasionally there is something we can do to make the symptoms better, but the end comes just the same. So when I see those patients, am I going to come home discouraged and troubled? Or will I get used to it? And which is better - to be desensitized or to constantly ache for my patients? The answer seems clear - there must be some middle ground, but how does one find it?
2 comments:
You are not going to be able to fix everyone...if you could, you would be out of a job~fast! I believe that it's not that you will be "desensitized" per se, but you will be less sensitive to people. You will learn that you can't fix everyone, and that's the way God intended. It's his plan, not medical science. I hope I helped some, and not just rambled on...but if you need to talk, I'm here!! LOL
I have you say that if that's how you feel; if you would be either desensitized or constantly aching, I suggest you choose a different specialty. Being a doctor in general will involve the daily, hourly, minutely realization that we are only human and the end will come. You help everyone you can, and make comfortable the ones you can't. Beyond that, your personality should also help dictate the specialty, I think. Some people are natural hand holders, some would rather see people, then be finished and not have to hold a hand. Either way, you're still helping someone. But an oncologist who won't hold your hand seems like a cold person indeed. That being said, if you are a hand holder, that doesn't mean that your patients and their problems should become your existence. You have a life and should live it. I hope I didn't ramble, either.
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