‘Both sides need to keep the relationship going’
BMJ 2003; 326 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.326.7402.1337 (Published 12 June 2003) Cite this as: BMJ 2003;326:1337All rapid responses
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Firstly I feel I have to comment that the above author is not one who
regularly inspires me.
However, for once, rather than stating the obvious, Dr Persaud brings
things back to reality. Patients are first and foremost human beings. For
too long patients have been referred to by doctors, nurses, physio's,
radiographers, and increasingly by the bean counters by their diagnosis. I
have yet to see the solitary spleen in bed 5, or the hip replacement on
ward 10; visions of a lonesome organ or a prosthesis abound, but do not
materialise. However, I have enjoyed the priviledge of caring for some
wonderful people. It is that facet of my former role as a nurse that made
the job rewarding. I once joked, as a younger person, I was a prostitute
for the NHS - I didn't do it for love, merely for money. With the benefit
of hindsight I now see this was not the case.
Medical education is at last referring to patients, not as symptoms
or syndromes, but as individuals. Regrettably, here in NZ nurse education
appears to be going the other way. I guess that is progress....
Competing interests:
None, other than a profound dislike and distrust of medical practitioners who venture into the realms of daytime TV.
Competing interests: No competing interests
Help is at hand
I think Dr Persaud makes clear his confusion and conflicts about his
role as a doctor. This is healthy, insomuch as it reflects a capacity to
think; however, he does seem to be rather stuck in furthering his
development in this matter, as reflected by the muddle when trying to
explain why doctors might burn out, and the rather aggrieved tone of the
article overall. By the end of his piece, it seems to me that Dr Persaud
has shown how he simultaneously needs and denigrates Freud's thinking.
In summary, my advice to Dr Persaud is:
1. Have another read of Freud
2. Don't generalise about " medical education"; I learnt quite a lot about
relationships with patients when I was studying.
3. Get an analyst.
Best wishes
Elin Davies
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests