All the quotes below are from "How Doctors Think" by Jerome Groopman. This book took me 6 months to finish reading and digest it. Just want to jot down some sentences which catch my eyes while reading. Hoping that I manage to read other books which soothe my mind and give me a sense of tranquility inside.
Here are the following sentences copied:
The great danger is that you stop caring. The goal of each day and each night was simply to clear the desks, rather than to deliberately and expertly care for those who needed care and reassure those who did not.
The hardest thing about being a doctor is that you learn best from your mistakes, mistakes made on living people.
Most errors are mistakes in thinking. and part of what causes these cognitive errors is our inner feelings, feelings we do not readily admit to and often don't even recognize.
The perfect is the enemy of good.
If he recommends a procedure,patients can ask why,what might be found,with what probability, and , importantly, how much difference it will make to find it. Some physician will be uneasy, some even angry because they may not have all the answers. Others will take the time and clearly respond to these simple, direct, reasonable questions.The kind of respond illuminates how much the doctor really knows about your case, and how much still needs to be discovered.
Just because you can't treat someone any longer for his cancer doesn't mean that you stop treating him. In fact, it is at this stage that treatment can be most challenging, how to balance therapy with medications to control pain without so narcotizing a person that he is unaware of his surroundings and unable to communicate with loved ones;how to give words of comfort while speaking the truth, acknowledging that while end is approaching, the person can still make a difference in the lives of others.
I do not know how true is it as I have not gone through my clinical years but it makes sense at certain point.
Just don't forget to have FUN!!Go go fighting!!
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Chapter 2
The new chapter starts with a neurological whirlwind. I go deep into the brain, tour around this mysterious place by knowing their new names and how does the brain communicate "intrabrainally" and with the outside world. It's complicated but it's fun to learn at the same time.
Other than meeting with excellent, dedicated and professional Dr Mary Anne, Dr Mary Blue, Dr Ryugo and Dr Nicoline (They are really putting a lot of efforts to make the learning materials the best), the best part of the module is always to meet with the patient who has related disease that we learn. Today patient, Mr Poon was diagnosed with Parkinson disease in 2006. A Parkinson disease patient always has difficulty in initiating movements, problems in muscle tone, resting tremor and the disease is always progressive. The treatment is always complicated and hard to find a balance between the benefits and its side effects. I feel very grateful to Mr Poon and also his wife Mrs Poon. With physically inconvenience they are still willing to come to our school so that we can have a chance to get contact with real patient and learn better in understanding the presentation of the disease. It's really valuable for us and I thank them from the bottom of my heart. Not everyone is willing to sacrifice their time for other people.
The whole learning process proceeds very well, we can clearly observe the clinical presentation of parkinson disease and get the detailed medical history from Mr Poon and also his wife. We are able to understand the word "rigidity" by feeling the muscle tone. It's not easy to confront with a group of students who surround you, asking you questions, observing you while you are having a chronic disease with physical changes and emotionally unstable. But, Mr Poon who still comes with the intention that we can learn something and contribute well in the future medicine. According to her wife, he is actually emotionally unstable and may be under depression. Dr Nicoline also told us that his condition had become worse if compared with last year when she saw him.
End of the session, Mr Poon asks Dr Nicoline when does the new drug comes out and cure the disease." My colleagues will contribute their whole life to find the solution, we will always try our very best to help you". By hearing this answer, Mr Poon leaves the class with teary eyes. His wife is strong to take care of him alone. That's the power of love.
I feel really helpless but at the same time I told myself no matter what we must work hard together. In this world, at some point, we are all connected. I hope that with all the gifts given by all the generous people to me, I can contribute back to the society to help people as a way to show my appreciation.
Other than the detrimental effects of Parkinson disease brought to Mr Poon, I see the Power of LOVE today that his wife dedicates to him. I see how strong Mr Poon is, I see his generosity to help a group of medical students to learn better, he teaches me that always give something to people no matter in what kinds of situation. Thank you and thank you.
Patient is always the strong encouragement for me to keep going and to be more positive towards life.
Our body is unpredictable.
Love life.
GoGo KinLuoi!!!
Other than meeting with excellent, dedicated and professional Dr Mary Anne, Dr Mary Blue, Dr Ryugo and Dr Nicoline (They are really putting a lot of efforts to make the learning materials the best), the best part of the module is always to meet with the patient who has related disease that we learn. Today patient, Mr Poon was diagnosed with Parkinson disease in 2006. A Parkinson disease patient always has difficulty in initiating movements, problems in muscle tone, resting tremor and the disease is always progressive. The treatment is always complicated and hard to find a balance between the benefits and its side effects. I feel very grateful to Mr Poon and also his wife Mrs Poon. With physically inconvenience they are still willing to come to our school so that we can have a chance to get contact with real patient and learn better in understanding the presentation of the disease. It's really valuable for us and I thank them from the bottom of my heart. Not everyone is willing to sacrifice their time for other people.
The whole learning process proceeds very well, we can clearly observe the clinical presentation of parkinson disease and get the detailed medical history from Mr Poon and also his wife. We are able to understand the word "rigidity" by feeling the muscle tone. It's not easy to confront with a group of students who surround you, asking you questions, observing you while you are having a chronic disease with physical changes and emotionally unstable. But, Mr Poon who still comes with the intention that we can learn something and contribute well in the future medicine. According to her wife, he is actually emotionally unstable and may be under depression. Dr Nicoline also told us that his condition had become worse if compared with last year when she saw him.
End of the session, Mr Poon asks Dr Nicoline when does the new drug comes out and cure the disease." My colleagues will contribute their whole life to find the solution, we will always try our very best to help you". By hearing this answer, Mr Poon leaves the class with teary eyes. His wife is strong to take care of him alone. That's the power of love.
I feel really helpless but at the same time I told myself no matter what we must work hard together. In this world, at some point, we are all connected. I hope that with all the gifts given by all the generous people to me, I can contribute back to the society to help people as a way to show my appreciation.
Other than the detrimental effects of Parkinson disease brought to Mr Poon, I see the Power of LOVE today that his wife dedicates to him. I see how strong Mr Poon is, I see his generosity to help a group of medical students to learn better, he teaches me that always give something to people no matter in what kinds of situation. Thank you and thank you.
Patient is always the strong encouragement for me to keep going and to be more positive towards life.
Our body is unpredictable.
Love life.
GoGo KinLuoi!!!
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