Medicine

When We Simply Stop Caring.

By on • ( 23 Comments )

I see it all around me.

Burnout. To be burnt.

When we simply stop caring.

Most of the time we don’t even need
to say anything. But you know.
You hear it in our voice.
You see it in our eyes.
And you feel it too.
You know what
is going through our
mind with each wayward glance.

Is this what I signed up for?
Is this all this profession has to offer? 

Because I have seen the articles.
To prevent physician burnout.
The A-B-C’s.
Changes we must make.
Limiting expectations. 
Self-empowerment.
Decreased hours. 
Putting us first.

I too used to be desperate.

What is happening to me?
What is happening to my colleagues?
What is happening to medicine?

But then one day, I saw you.

You.

Not you the patient.
You the person.
You’re just
a person.
You are me.
And you are hurting.
And maybe I am too, although
you may never know.

So I thank you for being here.

Not only do I want you to know that
I honor the privilege of being able to
help you, but you should know that
you have in your own way
taken care of me.

And I do care for you.

•

◊ A Physician’s Plea ◊

Categories: Medicine

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23 replies »

  3. I love your honesty with aspects that “lesser mortals” would hide. Knowing that there is another human with feelings next to me (or facing me) is so comforting. I have had the same GP for over 30 yrs now and so we know each other quite well and it is so nice to hear him express emotions, aspirations and frustrations that I have also felt. I wonder where the all to common impersonal side of a dialogue came from?

    Reply

    • I don’t know…maybe somehow physicians got the idea that we need to maintain the appearance of stoic life savers in front of our patients? That if we show our human side that patients might respect us less? Or…may it’s a defense mechanism…and just reflects our internal ‘distancing’? Because if we expose ourselves to our patients then we lose our objectivity, and we open ourselves to also be hurt? I don’t know… :-/

      I’m glad to hear about you and your GP. It sounds like you two have a good rapport, and I know that from his side, he no doubt appreciates that you have been coming to him for that long. It is always a special thing…to ‘grow old’ with your patients! 😉

      Reply

      • Hi Phoebe – Sadly, he is having a difficult time at the moment because a number of his patients are simply dying of old age… and there is nothing that he can do about it. You can no doubt relate.

        Reply

        • Oh no. 🙁 Yes, this is very difficult for physicians. And for doctors who really care, which I have no doubt he is one of them…it really is heartbreaking to see this, and to know that there is nothing you can do… 🙁

          Reply

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