How Good Are You As A Doctor?

How should a doctor treat a patient
the first time he sees him? 
Remember you're a healer, 
not a killer. 
You should offer hope 
and never a hint of hopelessness.

How good are you as a doctor?

The moment a doctor sees a patient,
he should immediately
offer hope of healing
and recovery from illness
no matter how severe
his condition is
by his friendliness,
his welcoming gestures
and his calm
and patient conversation. 
​Patient's first impression should be
the doctor will make him healthy
and strong again, 
that the doctor can heal him.

But there were times
when doctors weakened
or made patients more sick
perhaps unknowingly.
I knew someone
who had a liver disease
who went to a doctor
thinking he would be accommodated
with offers of healing and cure
but to his disappointment and frustration,
he was blamed and berated
for being sick
in their first meeting.
He was totally shocked.
And during their conversation
when the doctor found out
about his unhealthy lifestyle:
his unhealthy diet
and lack of exercise, 
his smoking and drinking, 
he received harsh and cruel remarks
instead of just being told comfortingly
what to do to make it right. 
He got hurt and mad at the same time 
because they were totally unexpected. 
He maintain his composure 
and tried not to lose his cool. 
Then in a moment he felt down and low
and blaming himself for his ailment 
and that the doctor was right. 
Thankfully in the end,
he was enlightened
with his disease
and prescribed with medicines
but the bad experience
he will never forget all his life. 

Doctors have spent
about a decade in school
plus hospital experience
make them so much better
in treating various diseases
so they immediately
command respect
from patients and people.
But sometimes,
perhaps unknowingly,
they are at fault.
Their words, 
which usually bring relief and comfort,
now bring hopelessness and despair.
Take this hospital scenario
that happened many times already.
A doctor,
who was few yards away
from a patient in coma,
was talking to family members
about how hopeless
the patient's condition is
and that there's nothing more to do.
All along he was talking
in a whisper
thinking the patient couldn't overhear.
But the truth is,
even in coma,
the patient hears every word clearly
inside the room and even outside.
He knows what's going on around him 
and is very much aware.
So every time he hears
words of hopelessness and despair
especially coming from doctors and family,
he would immediately
feel weak and helpless
and in no time,
succumb to his illness.
The doctor might not be aware of this,
but this was recounted
by a patient
who survived the coma
and eventually cured of his disease.
During his coma,
the only sense that was functioning
was his sense of hearing
so every word spoken in the room
he never missed.
Fortunate that he was such a fighter
that he never let the doctor's words
destroy his will to survive. 

One thing I know these days about doctors 
who are treating patients with severe diseases, 
they not only offer hope of healing, 
but also they encourage patients 
to never stop praying to God 
who they acknowledge as the Ultimate Healer. 
And this is the best a doctor does - 
to rely on the power of the Holy One 
instead of relying only on his knowledge and skill!

One stupid mistake
can undo a lot of good
and one act of foolishness
cancels out the greatest wisdom.
Even if the doctor
is the authority in healing,
if he becomes a factor
in the patience demise,
then his years of experience and expertise
will never amount to anything
and there's no way
to make up for the loss of life.