Some people used to have the mindset that doctors are like magicians with super healing powers. Like they can never fall sick like ordinary people or they don't get terminal illnesses or chronic illnesses. But oh they do and they are just like ordinary people getting ordinary and rare diseases. The thing that separates them from the norm is that they perceive it in a different manner. Well, there is an article about a story of a doctor been diagnosed with a terminal disease. As a doctor, he sees a lot of patients and are aware of the risks and sufferings that he will face and blablabla, in the end he denied treatment, quit his job and spent quality time with his family.
As a medical student, you will be posted into rotations where you will be observing what the doctors will do to the patient. As a student, all that runs in our head are mainly what is being observed and what things are done as well as how things are done. Sometimes or most of the time, we fail to acknowledge the presence of the patient. Their current mood, behaviour, fear..... Well, I had an ultrasound this evening for some unknown lump in the neck (yes we medical student can fall sick too), as I was lying on the bed beside the ultrasound machine, the only thing that was circling round my head was what will the screen show? What abnormality will they find or detect and is it severe or just mild? The fear in me and I realise these are the feelings that people will feel generally. Like they are worried and concern.
And as a student when we observe and learn, we fail to take into consideration of the patients' current emotion when they are undergoing all these tests and investigations. We generally ask about their main concerns and worries but I realise we fail to assure or comfort them during these period of time. Well thanks to the nurses, some of them do comfort them and reassuring them that it's going to be alright. Well, the procedure might be going all right, the results MIGHT NOT BE.
Well, I had undergone CT, MRI and X ray before but this time was the first time that I realise and understand the process that they undergo. Maybe for the first few time I could care much about the result hence wasn't worried about it so wasn't thinking about it. But now, I think I do understand their feeling. Some might feel worried about the results, some are just there as a routine check, some needs a good result for permit, some just couldn't care much about it. The amazing thing is that when this process is occuring, different people have different spectrum of emotions from joy to sadness. A pregnant mother undergoing ultrasound to check the health of the baby might be overjoyed and anticipated by it. Someone with a lesion might be worried and concerned about what it is. A person recovering would be having some hope in him that the results are improving. There are some that goes in and fall asleep as well, I will not be too surprised with that.
Today's experience one of an eye opening experience that I would regret if I missed it.
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