I was on my internship rotation in the cardiology department. It was a usual day, and the doctors were on rounds and counselling the patient’s attendants regarding their condition. Amidst all the chaos, a woman weeping silently near the department’s entrance caught my eye. I could not stop myself, and I steadily moved towards the woman and inquired why she was crying. She could not control her tears and said that her husband was in the cardiac CCU undergoing treatment. The man was young, probably in mid 30’s. I saw pain in her eyes, helplessness, and hope that he could survive that condition. She said that her young children were desperately waiting for him to recover.
She also added that he used to smoke and drink despite her warning of the health consequences. I did not know that woman personally, but her loneliness, pain, and emptiness in her eyes attracted me towards her. In such a big hospital, no one was even interested in what she was going through.
That day reminded me of the need to be kind to people who truly needed it. I tried my best to console her and reassured her that her husband would recover and return to them.
Healthcare profession is all about listening to the patients and patient’s attendants carefully, provide reassurance, proper counselling and empathy apart from the treatment.
We should keep our self in their shoes before acting rude.
A patient a nd patient’s attendants relationship with a doctor, pharmacist, and nurse depends on empathy, mutual trust, and effective communication.
At that day, I thanked GOD for giving me such a noble profession as my career and I truly wanted to give my best to make people aware about their disease, medications and complications and their prevention.
What do you think is the biggest barrier to a healthy doctor-patient relationship today?
Beautifully written. I think the biggest barrier between a doctor and patient–lack of proper communication and awareness. many patients don’t fully understand their condition or treatment, which creates confusion and breaks the trust.
Time might seem as a barrier for a doctor and patient relationship. With so much burden and night shifts, doctors hardly get any time to listen to their patients. It’s the time we spent with each patient that matters them more rather than medicine. It’s the empathy that builds trust
Doctors have so much burden, we have forgotten that they are also humans. But after all that, they still work hard and provide psychological support to the client.
I think miscommunication is the one barrier between doctor and patient, sometimes patient also hesitate to tell whole situation and that might be affect on condition.
Great one, humanity should serve first before white coat. Communicating with family members and giving reassurance is the thing they need as they carry lots of expections and communication will play important roles in building doctor - patient relationship.
The article touches on an important aspect of medical sciences. I believe that we should be mindful of our relationship with all other healthcare professionals. As for a healthy Doctor-patient relationship, that relationship will be bound by care and respect.
Beautifully written. Something that most doctors fail at these days is to have a mere sense of empathy. It does not take much for someone to just have basic empathy towards someone who is already at their worst. Yes, I do agree some patients go out of line and need to be grounded. But that does not mean everyone should get treated the same way.
Lack of Time-This busy world demands a lot and everyone are running behind something. Some little acts of kindness like the one you did, can rebuild the trust.
The biggest barrier I feel to a healthy doctor-patient relationship in today’s time is that some doctors are excessively money minded without focusing genuinely on the work they need to do.
This was really touching to read. In hospitals we often focus so much on diagnosis and treatment that we forget how much reassurance and simple kindness can mean to the patient and their family. Empathy is honestly one of the most important parts of this profession.
