Reading or studying medicine?
Education What remains when what has been learned has been forgotten
Medical Humanities Literature Philosophy Psychology Sociology Media studies Arts
Literature and culture not enough on their own Poet Psychiatrist War criminal
Why? Personal development Understand the narrative of illness Avoid solipsism Help deal with uncertainty Help forge links with other disciplines NOT an excuse to slack off on technical abilities
Heart of darkness Not the kernel…but that which surrounds the kernel
“It’s got to come out, of course, but that doesn’t address the deeper problem”
I have a good doctor Enthusiasm and good communication Better technical skills
“The ringing in your ears - I think I can help”
Roles
Dealing with uncertainty Patients Role Ethics
“Of course my cough is productive!”
Illness as metaphor Illness is the night-side of life, a more onerous citizenship…everyone holds dual citizenship Impossible to take up residence unprejudiced by the lurid metaphors with which it has been landscaped
How others view us Patients Writers
GB Shaw..a profession is a group of people who band together to hide their own shortcomings..
Medical Humanities Literature Psychology Sociology Media studies Arts
Education What remains when what has been learned has been forgotten
Primum non nocere Primum non tacere
Ethics/Professionalism Dr D S O’Briain
6 competencies for residency programs ACGME 1999 Patient care Medical knowledge Practice based learning and improvement Interpersonal and communication skills Professionalism System based practice –(larger context, cost, advocacy)
Professionalism Conduct, aims or qualities that mark a profession or professional person (Webster) Commitment to carry out professional responsibilities, adherence to ethical principals, sensitivity to diverse patient population (culture, age, gender, disability) respectful, altruistic, compassion, integrity, adherence to guidelines, identify deficiency in peer performance ACGME Unprofessional: Unmet responsibility, lack of effort to self improvement and adaptability, diminished relationship with patients, relatives, colleagues