Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Doctors, patients . teaching and learning

As i have written earlier, the primary job of a doctor it to teach patients. After all, medical care does not just consist of making a diagnosis or prescribing a medicine. Teaching patients about their illness; what they can do to manage it; and what they can do to remain healthy is an integral part of a doctor's job.

However, as important as teaching is learning. Doctors need to learn all the time. Medical science makes dramatic advances all the time, and doctors have to invest time, money and energy in ensuring they knowledge base is updated and current . This is why doctors read medical journals and medical conferences !

However, a very important teaching tool ( which many doctors sometimes overlook) are patients. Patients can be your best teachers - if you give them an opportunity to teach you ! Patients will not teach you just about the medical details of the disease ( though reading medicine about patients you have actually seen is the best way of making sure that the knowledge "sticks" !) .

Patients can teach doctors how to live; and how to cope with adversity ! Expert patients know a lot about their disease, and can teach a doctor a lot about how his patients can learn to live with their disease.

( And if you are lucky, and your patient is an investment consultant, he can also teach you how to invest in shares and stocks ! )
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2 comments:

  1. Agreed. Doctor’s job is not limited to diagnosing or treating their patients, their job also include making their patients understand what they are suffering from. A layman knows nothing or very less about diseases, medical treatment and medicines. Doctor’s should have patience and the ability to make their patients understand the reason for their particular disease and why it is important to get it treated as soon as possible.

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  2. Anonymous4:47 PM

    Most of the doctors in India are abroad educated and have been trained and have worked at some of the best institutions and hospitals in UK, USA, Canada. They are capable of performing highly advanced surgery with huge success rate. So doubting the capabilities of Indian doctors are wrong and incorrect.

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