For the past three days, I have wrongly concluded that I have successfully completed the gigantic tome of paperwork the fellowship program sent to me for enrollment purposes.
No joke: The postage on the packet was over $10 at the time of receipt. And I have already spent over six hours working on the packet. And there is still more to do. And there will be even more forms to fill out when I actually relocate to New York City. Which is happening in less than two months!
!
And this is when the Muse strikes, of course. She’s a coy creature, she is.
Ideas:
- The concept of “manipulation”. As in, “She’s so manipulative.” There is a psychiatric diagnosis that has lost all useful meaning; instead, people use this label to encompass all traits they dislike in an individual. People also use the word “manipulative” a lot in conjunction with this diagnosis. To be clear, we’re all manipulating each other all the time. When manipulation is done well, no one notices and no one cares. (In some contexts, “manipulation” is interpreted as “charm”.) We only notice manipulation when it is not executed effectively.
- I’ve received a lot of advice about moving to and living in New York. Much of the counsel I have heard is more a reflection of the person than of the city.
- Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned: I recently laughed at a patient. To his face. I tried to suppress my laughter, but my efforts failed miserably. I apologized and lamely explained the reasons for my laughter. He wasn’t offended. Patients are extraordinarily forgiving.
- Sometimes, we get too caught up in what we think we “should” be doing as physicians. Instead of behaving like ourselves, we behave like we believe physicians should behave. What is the role of authenticity in patient care? And why are we so scared of being genuine?
I am hopeful that elaboration will (soon) follow. Wait for me, will you?
On an unrelated note, I also asked Kevin, MD, for his “take” on a specific issue. This is my peripheral brush with fame, people. And I’m hoping that he’ll help remove the word “medblogosphere” from the lexicon. Don’t let me down, Kevin.
1 May 2008 |
There isn’t anything wrong with “medblogosphere” that isn’t already wrong with “blogosphere,” a word I despise and sounds like it was created by and for paid media types. So I make terms up! Left side of blogville, East Bloglandia, blogsy were the morogoves, etc.
Comment by Justin Slotman | 2 May 2008 @ 10:58am
I think the bullet points “Forgive me Father” and “Sometimes” are really just two sides of one coin. How can a patient trust a doctor who is doing his damnedest to be a blank wall? Why should a patient trust a doctor who is a blank wall? Guessing what kind of person you are talking to by looking at the walls can be really draining.
Comment by k | 2 May 2008 @ 11:20am
Dear Dr. Maria,
> What is the role of authenticity in patient care?
What, it _has_ a role in patient care? Defecating on the dinner table might be “authentic”, but that alone is no good reason to do so. I believe that “authenticity” is a red herring; what the qestion really asks is, “How can we abdicate the debt we owe to civilisation and behave as we like without having to suffer consequences?”
I hope you will continue to behave in a manner that will benefit the patient’s emotions as opposed to those of the sensitive, in-touch-with-the-inner-brat crowd.
Yours faithfully,
Felix.
Comment by Felix Kasza | 2 May 2008 @ 11:52am
[…] I had mentioned previously, however, we are all manipulating each other all the time. In its less negative context, the word […]
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