tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post3741526544851582921..comments2024-03-05T00:59:35.390+08:00Comments on Angry Doctor: The Ritualangry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-34100260709105719102007-09-05T20:43:00.000+08:002007-09-05T20:43:00.000+08:00"We all are" is nonetheless an unusual response to..."We all are" is nonetheless an unusual response to the inevitable question. Probably works better in Ang-moh land than here. The sort of ending to the consultation here strikes me like a flight of fancy... which of course it probably is.blacktaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17287716938388381720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-35804392223551050492007-09-05T19:23:00.000+08:002007-09-05T19:23:00.000+08:00Different patients require different rituals, I gu...Different patients require different rituals, I guess.<BR/><BR/>Patients tend to be more compliant with the treatment if they trust the doctor.<BR/><BR/>As for doctors providing solace, comfort, and advice on coping with life, this is what I call the 'secular priest' role; traditionally such a role would have been played the village priest or elder, but in modern society we lack such support. The idea of calling a total stranger on an SOS hotline would have been rather unthinkable back then (the yet-to-be-invented technology aside...).<BR/><BR/>Doctors today play that role by default for several reasons:<BR/><BR/>1. People medicalise their 'problems of living'.<BR/><BR/>2. Doctors are privy to a lot of personal information.<BR/><BR/>3. For many people, doctors still occupy the position of authority in the relationship.<BR/><BR/>4. We happen to be there when bad things happen: death, serious illness, family conflicts precipitated by above, etc.<BR/><BR/>When bad things happen to people and they look to you for comfort, sometimes you just have to behave decently and help however you can.<BR/><BR/>We are all taught how to do that in school, but a lot comes with experience.angry dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-35308920438398557062007-09-05T14:29:00.000+08:002007-09-05T14:29:00.000+08:00Does the ritual help? Just wondering? I think wro...Does the ritual help? Just wondering? I think wrote you something about drs doing some behaviourial modification to patients so that it affects the patient outcome. <BR/><BR/>Do you see the doctors role as also providing solace, comfort and acceptance for situations beyond control. <BR/><BR/>I am sure you guys face a lot of situation like this. Like breaking the bad news and telling patients no cure. Almost sounds like some ER drama or Greys anatomy<BR/><BR/>palmistAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com