prescribing. Pain may be the number one reason a patient visits a
doctor and pain care is indeed a patient’s right; however, controlled
substances for pain care are a privilege. And just as with prescribers,
the patients have responsibilities and obligations to meet, lest they
endanger their privileges. They must become good stewards of the
medications they are prescribed.
Despite these serious risks to their community, their patients, and
their medical licenses, physicians regularly rise to the occasion and
treat pain. Over the past year as President of the Greater Louisville
Medical Society, I have written a monthly article for our journal,
Louisville Medicine. The reasons that physicians so often rise are
woven throughout those essays. Here are few selected passages…
June: We have core values that we share, and when our strategy
is in line with achieving the greater good, our choice of profession
becomes a higher calling.
July: We can positively affect people’s lives in a dramatic way and on
a grand scale if we commit to our shared values, reconnect and work
together. It is not only possible. It is our inherent duty.
August: Think back to when you were happiest as a physician. It
was probably when you did something that was completely selfless,
without any concern that the benefit outweighed the cost, without
consideration of a return on investment.
September: It is why we started down this tortuous path. It’s why
we gave up our youth to endless lectures, textbooks, labs, insomnia,
and stress, risked our health, and stole from our family life. We went
into debt, endured ridicule on morning rounds, and exposed our
careers to legal ruin – all so we could commit to helping the people
important to our profession: our patients.
October: Her strength, courage and positive attitude have always
inspired me. In the cacophony of that noisy mall time stood still as
our eyes met. I told her who I was and how inspiring she is to me.
She smiled and we hugged. That was a moment of confluential truth.
Never take for granted this precious gift.
November: I can never be 100 percent sure why I do what I do… but
I do know the best decision is always the honest decision, regardless.
December: I have been blessed with the opportunity to connect
intimately with people on many levels. I’ve noticed those who preserve
their joy despite insurmountable challenges …They have perspective.
Humans are the only organisms aware of concepts like the past, the
future, beauty, love, death, and eternity.
January: Every imperceptible moment that passes is not only a
new reality; it is rebirth, renewal, and redefinition. How will I define
myself?
February: The place where you started is your true self; th H