Takeaway
I try to take care of each patient as if he or she is my close relative or friend. I believe this is the only way that we can uphold our Hippocratic oath in the modern era of medicine, which tends to depersonalize physician-patient interactions.
Passion in the Medical Profession | August 13, 2018 | 1 min read
By Marcia Canto, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
My approach is to try to take care of each patient as if he/she were a close relative or friend. I believe this is the only way to that we can uphold our Hippocratic oath in the modern era of medicine, which tends to depersonalize physician-patient interactions.
I also believe that patients have the right to learn more about their medical problem or disease and to participate actively in the decision-making process related to diagnostic and treatment options. Hence, I try to spend time educating them through direct one-on-one interaction, patient education materials, as well as nurse educators in my practice who partner with me. The latter is a way of providing increased access and a team approach to medical care that patients appreciate. I try to outline specific health care choices for them and give them a chance to select an option they feel comfortable with, although there are times when they ask me, “What would you do if you were in my place?” or they tell me, “I leave the decision to you, I have utmost confidence in you.”
Finally, I truly love practicing medicine and enjoy seeing my patients get better. Curing or preventing cancers and saving lives by doing complicated advanced endoscopic procedures have been tremendously fulfilling. But, long-term personal relationships with patients I have helped makes me equally happy.