An Ode to the Kindness of Doctors

"Kindness and a generous spirit go a long way.  And a sense of humor.  It's like medicine - very healing."
— Max Irons

Growing up in a family of physicians, I took for granted excellent medical care and easy access to doctors.  But time has passed as have those members of my family.  And things are different in the era of managed care.

I have had my share of frustration with doctors and their offices -- not being able to talk to a doctor after anxiety-producing test results, three-hour waits ...  But thankfully, those moments are rare given that there are a slew of doctors who are not only top in their fields, but also kind.  During the summer, my children and I make the rounds to several doctors.  Those recent visits have reminded me of and made me especially grateful for the kindness of physicians. 

The kindness of doctors is a special brand of compassion that only they can offer.  While doctors do what they do every day, for patients, going to the doctor represents an important event, anxiety, and sometimes a difficult journey ahead.  When we are nervous about a test, procedure or illness, we are very much in their hands.  And we know that without our health, we truly have nothing.

Older than the Bible, the Hippocratic Oath has changed over the years.  There has been controversy about its various elements and even discussion over whether physicians should take it at all.  But its existence and even the controversy are both testament to the importance of how doctors practice medicine.

This is a special thank you for all the doctors who remember to give kindness along with excellent medical care, for those who remember that their patients are people and not just appointments waiting behind the charts on the examining room doors.

Over the years, I have been blessed to have doctors call me after hours on a Friday with test results, so that I would not worry over the weekend.  I have had doctors give me their cell phone numbers.  I have had doctors reduce my angst with their sense of humor.  And I have had doctors take more time than made economic sense to listen, to really listen to whatever was going on with my family members or me. 

The kindness of doctors is so critical because we are at our most vulnerable when we need them.   Their generosity of spirit can make all the difference.    

 
P.S.  So my post is not a poem and, therefore, not an ode, but in my enthusiasm to thank doctors, I took poetic license.