Computers might be able to take over some of what a doctor does, but they sure
can’t do this.
can’t do this.
Last week, Reddit user mcharb13 posted a photo of a handwritten note from a
doctor that he said has changed his life. It’s a condolence note that was sent to
his father by an emergency room physician at New York Presbyterian Hospital who
had treated his mother, he told the Huffington Post. His mother had breast cancer
and died several hours after being taken to the ER.
doctor that he said has changed his life. It’s a condolence note that was sent to
his father by an emergency room physician at New York Presbyterian Hospital who
had treated his mother, he told the Huffington Post. His mother had breast cancer
and died several hours after being taken to the ER.
In the note, the doctor explains that this is the first such note she’s written in 20
years of ER work (the name of the doctor was omitted from the photo, but Redditors
seemed to think it was a female, based on the handwriting.)
years of ER work (the name of the doctor was omitted from the photo, but Redditors
seemed to think it was a female, based on the handwriting.)
“Our encounters are typically hurried and do not always allow for more personal
interaction,” she wrote. “However, in your case, I felt a special connection to your
wife, who was so engaging and cheerful in spite of her illness and trouble breathing.”
interaction,” she wrote. “However, in your case, I felt a special connection to your
wife, who was so engaging and cheerful in spite of her illness and trouble breathing.”
The note struck a chord with at least 2.1 million people and prompted more than
1,300 of them to leave comments. Many of the comments have come from people
who have also lost parents, and many have come from physicians as well.
1,300 of them to leave comments. Many of the comments have come from people
who have also lost parents, and many have come from physicians as well.
One said:
They don’t train us how to deal with the human element of our job very well. Most
react by developing a deep callus over their hearts. Some of us are down-right evil
in how jaded we’ve become. I’m sure other healthcare workers can testify. So, it is
a true testament to your parents relationship for this to pierce beneath that callus.
Whatever they were doing, apparently, they were doing it right. It sounds like you
have a couple of great parents. Copy them.
They don’t train us how to deal with the human element of our job very well. Most
react by developing a deep callus over their hearts. Some of us are down-right evil
in how jaded we’ve become. I’m sure other healthcare workers can testify. So, it is
a true testament to your parents relationship for this to pierce beneath that callus.
Whatever they were doing, apparently, they were doing it right. It sounds like you
have a couple of great parents. Copy them.
Another wrote:
I pray to God that when I make it as a trauma surgeon, I do not become desensitized
to the sometimes inevitable loss of life of my fellow man or woman, nor desensitized
to the joy of saving or helping to improve the quality of life of my patients. It’s a reminder
that, even in the digital age, bedside manner and compassion go a long way.
I pray to God that when I make it as a trauma surgeon, I do not become desensitized
to the sometimes inevitable loss of life of my fellow man or woman, nor desensitized
to the joy of saving or helping to improve the quality of life of my patients. It’s a reminder
that, even in the digital age, bedside manner and compassion go a long way.
[Photo from Reddit user mcharb13]
Read more: http://medcitynews.com/2013/02/read-the-handwritten-er-doctors-note-
thats-gone-viral-on-reddit/#ixzz2ROKd6A5Z
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