"The HIV ward, the scene of graphically ill patients when I was training, is long closed because it's no longer needed in most rich countries. When my young neighbour had a stroke, doctors cleverly retrieved the clot suffocating his artery, not just saving his life but also returning it to its full potential."
"In my own field of oncology, there used to be very few successful therapies. Palliative care was in its infancy in the minds of many, including doctors. A societal expectation that patients deserved more say in their care was still taking shape, and doctors wielded a lot of power."
"What I didn't know was how to answer their more searching questions. Medical journals depicted survival curves, but the recently separated father wanted to know where he sat on the curve so he could figure out how to spend his time with the kids."
Medicine attracts individuals with a thirst for knowledge, accommodating various personalities and approaches. Significant advancements have transformed patient care, such as successful stroke treatments and kidney donations. Oncology has evolved from limited therapies to a focus on patient involvement in care decisions. However, despite medical knowledge, new doctors often struggle to address patients' deeper concerns and personal situations, highlighting a gap between clinical expertise and empathetic communication in patient care.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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