WHAT MY PATIENTS Have Taught Me
Anub John, MD
“Wherever the art of Medicine is loved, there is
also a love of Humanity.” - Hippocrates
I
t was with great pride and expectation
that I entered the medical profession. I
set forth on this lifelong journey with a
passion to learn, a resolve to be the best,
and a willingness to face and overcome
hardships. A few years and many tests later, I
graduated from medical school and entered residency in internal
medicine. I did expect ups and downs, professors to appease and
endless knowledge to be accrued in a short time. Dealing with people
was something I had to pick up along the way, as every patient was
unique and needed individualized treatment.
Although I did interact with patients in medical school, it was
only during residency that the full responsibility of patient care
was bestowed upon me. It was no longer just about medical facts,
but involved the patient as a whole, including social issues and
psychological factors.
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LOUISVILLE MEDICINE
Sometimes a patient can be your best teacher. Someone who has
had a disease for a number of years might actually have more to offer,
by just telling you their story. Some patients are so well read on their
illness that a wealth of knowledge can be gained just by interacting
with them. During my days in medical school, I actually had patients
correct me and I am grateful to them. Also, it is not uncommon for
patients to talk to me about new medications or therapies that they
would have seen on television commercials or on the internet. It
is important to acknowledge their concerns and to guide them. At
times, I have admitted that I needed to research more about their
query and got back to them to give them a more comprehensive
answer. My patients have appreciated this and I have realized that
for building trust and a therapeutic doctor-patient relationship,
honesty and humility are virtues that are of paramount importance.
I was recently called upon to admit a teenage girl, a type-1
diabetic, who was in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis. She had run
out of insulin a few days ago. It was a busy night, and it was almost
dawn by the time I had gone to examine her. She was curled up
under the covers and answered with a whimper when I called her