Thank you for sharing your observations about healthcare. Unfortunately the medical world has often prized intellectual excellence at the expense of emotional intelligence.
It’s important to continue to counteract that tendency whenever possible. Competence is obviously very important, but so is kindness.
"Rather, my point is that kindness, compassion, and empathy are indispensable qualities in the field of healthcare." I shared your observations with my 95 year old mother-in-law. My special mom is happy to report that her physician has these qualities that complement her medical degree. I said, 't starts from the heart doesn't it.?' She agreed, and wanted me to pass on blessings to your mother. Thanks for your tale Gurdeep.
Two comments regarding this post, one we need more medical personnel and have been stating this for years. As a nation many of those in the medical field have retired or quit. We are in desperate need of them , and those who are still working are overwhelmed and burnt out.
That being said, the experience i had when my husband had pancreatic cancer was twofold. The nurses took the brunt of the day to day care and were wonderful, the doctors appeared first thing in the morning doing their rounds. With that, we could never find them to ask the much needed questions, but would talk with my drugged up husband who couldn’t remember. He was recovering from surgery. We arrived first thing to ask and they were vague. We finally went to the medical library to better understand, and the nurse remarked and questioned why we went there.
I am sure or hoping much has changed over the years, but after COVID and having limited resources, I am not so sure.
Thank you for your inspiration and the joy you spread regardless of life’s challenges.
There is a huge difference between "medical" care and "health" care. It's unfortunate that one is publicly funded - and the other is often overlooked completely! The science of medicine is an essential background, but the art of healing is not necessarily included in education of practitioners! Your story is an excellent demonstration of the disparity between the two!
It’s very sad to go through something like this. You’ve captured the experience so thoughtfully, and by sharing this article, you’re spreading a beautiful message of kindness, compassion, and empathy. Sending healing hugs and warm wishes to your mom!
I also think part of it is how stretched and stressed health care professionals are. My mom was a nurse and by the end of her career she felt so inundated by paperwork that she didn't feel she had time to provide the care she wanted to. I think it's only gotten worse since then. Thank you for your compassionate and wise observations! Love your newsletter. 🙏
This is spot on! Apart from encountering in my working life a number of physicians and other health care professionals who were absent the week they taught bedside manner, I always tried to be sure the professionals and students working with me understood the importance of compassionate care. As the years have gone by, from my retired perspective, I think the idea of compassion has diminished in importance in the medical professions. It is very sad! Often a caring hand on a shoulder of a patient can be as effective as a prescription.
Thanks Gurdeep. I had exactly the same experience at a Rheumatologist's office in Ontario. The assistant doing the initial exam asked questions, listened to the answers. She was professional but showed empathy. The Rheumatologist herself showed up, having let her assistant not just examine me, but do the actual diagnosis, and declared I didn't have rheumatoid arthritis, which I already knew, and sent me on my way to stumble back to the car with hands like claws and excruciating pain in most joints, because she only treats rheumatoid arthritis.
As @Gerridoc said, in the medical world what matters most is measured by how well you did getting your BSc in Life Sciences at Queens and who had the highest test scores on the MCADs.
Thank you for sharing your observations about healthcare. Unfortunately the medical world has often prized intellectual excellence at the expense of emotional intelligence.
It’s important to continue to counteract that tendency whenever possible. Competence is obviously very important, but so is kindness.
"Rather, my point is that kindness, compassion, and empathy are indispensable qualities in the field of healthcare." I shared your observations with my 95 year old mother-in-law. My special mom is happy to report that her physician has these qualities that complement her medical degree. I said, 't starts from the heart doesn't it.?' She agreed, and wanted me to pass on blessings to your mother. Thanks for your tale Gurdeep.
That video brought tears to my eyes. 🥲 You are doing good work.
Agree with you.
Two comments regarding this post, one we need more medical personnel and have been stating this for years. As a nation many of those in the medical field have retired or quit. We are in desperate need of them , and those who are still working are overwhelmed and burnt out.
That being said, the experience i had when my husband had pancreatic cancer was twofold. The nurses took the brunt of the day to day care and were wonderful, the doctors appeared first thing in the morning doing their rounds. With that, we could never find them to ask the much needed questions, but would talk with my drugged up husband who couldn’t remember. He was recovering from surgery. We arrived first thing to ask and they were vague. We finally went to the medical library to better understand, and the nurse remarked and questioned why we went there.
I am sure or hoping much has changed over the years, but after COVID and having limited resources, I am not so sure.
Thank you for your inspiration and the joy you spread regardless of life’s challenges.
There is a huge difference between "medical" care and "health" care. It's unfortunate that one is publicly funded - and the other is often overlooked completely! The science of medicine is an essential background, but the art of healing is not necessarily included in education of practitioners! Your story is an excellent demonstration of the disparity between the two!
It’s very sad to go through something like this. You’ve captured the experience so thoughtfully, and by sharing this article, you’re spreading a beautiful message of kindness, compassion, and empathy. Sending healing hugs and warm wishes to your mom!
Thank you, Gurdeep! I love reading all your articles! I’m wishing the best for your mother. Love you! ❤️
I also think part of it is how stretched and stressed health care professionals are. My mom was a nurse and by the end of her career she felt so inundated by paperwork that she didn't feel she had time to provide the care she wanted to. I think it's only gotten worse since then. Thank you for your compassionate and wise observations! Love your newsletter. 🙏
This is spot on! Apart from encountering in my working life a number of physicians and other health care professionals who were absent the week they taught bedside manner, I always tried to be sure the professionals and students working with me understood the importance of compassionate care. As the years have gone by, from my retired perspective, I think the idea of compassion has diminished in importance in the medical professions. It is very sad! Often a caring hand on a shoulder of a patient can be as effective as a prescription.
Thanks Gurdeep. I had exactly the same experience at a Rheumatologist's office in Ontario. The assistant doing the initial exam asked questions, listened to the answers. She was professional but showed empathy. The Rheumatologist herself showed up, having let her assistant not just examine me, but do the actual diagnosis, and declared I didn't have rheumatoid arthritis, which I already knew, and sent me on my way to stumble back to the car with hands like claws and excruciating pain in most joints, because she only treats rheumatoid arthritis.
As @Gerridoc said, in the medical world what matters most is measured by how well you did getting your BSc in Life Sciences at Queens and who had the highest test scores on the MCADs.
100%….