doctor-patient Archives - Page 3 of 3

In the News

November 22, 2005July 22, 2013 Kerrie Smyres

I’ve had a couple terrible, horrible, no good, very bad weeks, so I’m trying to take it easy right now. Fortunately Kevin, MD has had several links to interesting stories in the last few days that I’ve wanted to share.

Primarily about the FDA’s rejection of Plan B, this article also discusses how the agency is influenced by the pharmaceutical industry.
Doctors can’t treat illnesses with magic, but a magician’s skills may be useful in developing patient rapport and trust.
Google is a powerful tool that even helps doctors diagnose patients.
On average, Britons take 373 painkillers each year. The British Medical Association is concerned by this “misuse.”

P.S. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, which I allude to in the first sentence of the post, is quite an entertaining book.

Coping

Doctor as Patient

July 22, 2005February 16, 2010 Kerrie Smyres

In And Today is Another Day, physician and writer Richard Waltman chronicles his experiences as a cancer patient. Although our illnesses are different, the lessons of his journey are universal.

He also gives this important advice to other docs:

“Now hear this: We are them and they are us. We get sick and we die. We want to talk about it, and we want you to listen. Extend your hand, make eye contact, and say something like this: ‘I’m sorry to hear your bad news. My thoughts and best wishes are with you.’”

[via Kevin, M.D.]