I have often read what others wrote and thought to myself, I have felt that way, too . The roller coaster ride of being a physician is reflected through the readings this past month. For example, cynicism is prevalent among physicians. How often have we seen patients on DoRo with pancreatitis induced by short-chain hydrocarbons, or patients who are determined to file a workman's compensation form for a weak arm or finger and live comfortably, courtesy of the taxpayers. We are not being unfair or rude to certain patient populations out of spite or because we are mean people.
Physicians care about what happens to the patients and face many frustrations.
This jaded angle on physicians' views is captured by many of the physician writers encountered in this literature course. In Uncle Vanya , Chekhov portrays Dr. Astrov as a caring doctor who experiences his own share of frustrations in his life. His medical practice is as routine as the pace of production in a factory. He is especially frustrated by the older man, Sonya's father, who self-medicates and refuses to see Astrov when called by Sonya. Many of us have encountered older patients who have refused new medication changes because they feel good and they know better with longer experience.