Self Reflection In Medicine

Most of us might thought that doctors are equipped by their medical education with the ability to treat disease and the training to smoothly comfort the dying. However, in her book, Dr. Chen shares with us the ironic reality that thorough medical education and culture not only does not prepare doctors for inevitable death of some of their patients but shun the confrontation with death almost completely (Chen, 2007). When it comes to facing death, physicians are just as at a loss as the rest of us. Dr. Chen explores the phenomenon that doctors avoid talking about death among patients as well as themselves by sharing her clinical experiences. She was particularly inspired when she witnessed a break with tradition: one doctor tried to console an elderly woman whose husband is dying and stayed with her by the side of the bed instead of just closed the curtain and left family members along with their dying relative (Chen, 2007). That scene of compassion and humanity, in the midst of machine beepings and buzzings, was an excellent example to show what physicians can do when nothing can be done. And when a doctor opens to confronting his own fears and doubts, he will be ready to prepare his patients for the "final exam". Therefore, self-reflection and dialogue is something a physician can do beyond cure, and it is also what Dr. Chen really wants to tell us about.

In order to understand the importance of self-reflection of physicians, we have to address the problem of modern American medicine first. In the book, Dr. Chen first focuses on the transformation of medical students after encountering death: the cadaver dissection, resuscitation on a dying patient, and the process of pronouncing the death of a patient (Chen, 2007). These is...

... middle of paper ...

...having a group of supportive peers. If our educational system can bring about a formal infrastructure for self-reflection and dialog, we may come closer to developing the character and sensitivity that we would all appreciate in physicians who care for our families and ourselves.

To sum up, the book reminds us of the complexity and paradox of the medical profession: the limits of a medical culture that is excessively focused on curing disease and has lost sight of its equally important role in helping patients confronting death with dignity. What physicians can really do beyond cure is to open up and confront their own fears and doubts, and willing to prepare their patients for the "final exam" (Chen, 2007). Those with a career of caring for the ill have to continually confront their own human limitations if they are ever to become the type of doctors people value.