If so, I must embark on a course of education. I must be humble enough and professional enough to immediately seek a remedy for my deficiency, including calling in a consultant to help. I make a commitment to learn. Working with the dying, we must be prepared to question everything. Much of the current chaos swirling around the treatment of the seriously ill has as its core myths, half-truths, and downright lies.
Courage is contagious.
The defining moments of history have been immortalized because common men and women inspired others with their courage and together they all accomplished the seemingly impossible. No one and no thing must ever cause us to shirk our duty to a patient who relies on us to fight for him or her. In our private acts of courage, we inspire others who, in turn, will inspire still others to accomplish the seemingly impossible. Strength has a resolute spirit that stands in spite of overwhelming obstacles. We can become a source of strength to our patients and their families.