The art of Medicine Can be Personal

It was my birthday this past Tuesday and I would rather be celebrating somewhere or just relaxing at home, but it was a heck of a week. Anyway, I chose this life...this profession and must live up to my responsibility as demanded by the the principle of this art. There is no doubt in my mind when I began to take more responsibility for patients that the things I will see and the privilege information I will have access to, the vulnerability of patients and many issues around the doctor-patient interaction will sometimes become personal. I mean It became personal when I saw the the first patient died from her serious auto accident injury after trying to resuscitate her for 2-3hrs. It became personal when a patient I thought was already stable slump back into coma and died even though he's 78y/o and even with all our effort. It was personal when I saw a 41 y/o young man presented with aortic dissection caused by uncontrolled long-standing hypertension just because he can not afford medical insurance. It also became personal when I saw the same young man rescued from death through timely life saving surgery. It was personal when I delivered my first baby, grateful to the mother who allowed me to practice my art for the first time. It's always personal when I figure out my patient's problem and I'm able to help out. it becomes personal when my patient show appreciation and return compassion to me.

I enjoy what I do...I look forward to going to work everyday, I want to help and I believe most people in medicine want to help and make a difference, and therefore can not totally avoid taking things personal sometimes. I want to apply myself every time with this art, I want to learn as much as I can...help as much as I can...show compassion regardless of situation and circumstances. I must say practicing this art is both rewarding and gratifying and to be paid for it...It's almost like, you play a kid's game for a king's ransom. And if you don't take it serious enough, eventually one day you're going to say, Oh, I could have done this, I could have done that... Because you could...And I don't want to say that. I want to look back and say: I did the best I could with every opportunity I had and I'm glad to be of help.