Louisville Medicine Volume 62, Issue 3 | Página 40

Doctors’ Lounge
(continued from page 37)
me as though I’ve lost my mind, I might find
a pleural rub or a tender rib. Open-ended
questions are for emotional complaints and
for the doctor internally, himself or herself
– it’s dangerous to lock onto a diagnosis in
five seconds then twist in circles to justify it.
Big questions should never be overlooked
or glossed over. “What is the meaning of
life?” has no universal answer, but “what

is the meaning of this illness?” is a question that must be explored. Diagnosis is
all, for without it one has neither prognosis
nor plan of action nor accurate words of
comfort. Instead we and the patient are marooned in doubt, anxious and fearful of the
worst. Big answers require thinking, tactical
skills and all the understanding of the human being that we can muster. Being able
to come up with them is the first command-

ment, and one of the greatest rewards, of
doctoring. So fire away in your interrogation
chambers, and don’t spare the rod, or the
wrist supports. LM
Note: G"