As timely as the “Desperate Housewives” issue, my competence as a physician was put to question recently. Since it was the first incident in my 7 years of medical practice, I didn’t know how to react. It was a mix of anger, disappointment and resentment. It took me some time to get over it and regain my confidence back.
The doctor-patient relationship is considered to be essential in the practice of medicine. The physician and patient are supposedly in a partnership and both parties should openly discuss the management and ask questions in a trusting manner. This ideology stems from trying to maintain the most objective outlook by both parties – patient and doctor – in formulating and exercising optimal treatment plans. In fact, many health care professionals and patients claim that this trust and relationship is therapeutic in its own right. Unfortunately, this relationship was breached by my patient. Despite the explanations and clarifications I made at the start of treatment, she did not immediately discuss her doubts regarding this to me. Instead, she opted to seek opinion from ‘other’ physicians and other people who apparently said my management was wrong. I resent that she never mentioned anything, considering that I followed up on her a day after we started medications and even had contact with her close relative a week after. Then they confronted me three months after! I think it was unfair on my side of the relationship.
Since I did not have anything to be afraid of and I had basis for my management, as courtesy, I still sent them my explanation and some reference materials. I took responsibility and apologized for whatever is lacking in my pre-management explanations to them. They haven’t responded until now.
Competence is defined as ``the ability to perform the roles and tasks required by one's job to the expected standard''. In my case, the treatment I gave was according to what the medical books and journals say, and what worked with previous patients I saw with similar illness. In my opinion, my judgment was within the ‘medical standards’ and therefore, to question it was tantamount to questioning my competence as well.
The experience is painful but I would rather think of it as a constructive criticism. I am not a ‘perfect’ doctor and since I am committed to reaching a goal to be the best I can be in my profession, I will accept these doses of harassments and insults. After all, I was called to be a doctor and have full confidence in the One who called me!
Comments