Doctors are only human, nothing more and nothing less. The NY Times published a piece about physicians crying at the bedside: At Bedside, Stay Stoic or Display Emotions? and Dr. Centor of DB’s Medical Rants wrote an interesting comment on the article:
“As I consider my career, I do not remember crying at the bedside. Does that make me cold? Which behavior is more appropriate?
Delivering bad news is painful. Before each session I prepare myself using a self visualization technique. I have learned over the years the art of these conversations. Each one drains me both because I empathize and I care. However, crying would detract from my ability to do the complete job of helping the patient.
Perhaps men, and men of my
I think about my patients. I do care. Displaying raw emotion does not work for me.
If I let me emotions take over, then I believe my effectiveness will diminish.”
Some patients prefer their doctors to have a “warm and fuzzy” personality while others opt for a doctor with a more technical approach — “just fix the problem.” Luckily for all, there are physicians to represent both ends of the spectrum and in between.
References:
At Bedside, Stay Stoic or Display Emotions?. NYTimes.
Appropriate bedside manner. DB’s Medical Rants.
Image source: Shaylor’s photostream, Creative Commons license. The image is not related and does not show the patient.
Original post by Clinical Cases
