Question for Patient, Physician and Society

Q: Write about the challenges you face—as well as factors that help you—in maintaining empathy while practicing medicine. Give examples of patients or circumstances where you have found it particularly easy or difficult to maintain empathy.

A: When thinking about empathy, I decided to look it up in the dictionary just so I knew exactly what I was talking about. I don’t like thinking I know what I’m talking about, when in fact I don’t know what I’m talking about; you know? So I looked it up hoping that I would find some more information on empathy that might crystallize the question for me.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
em·pa·thy (em-puh-thee) n.

1. the intellectual identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.

American Heritage Dictionary
em·pa·thy (ěm'pə-thē) n.

1. Identification with and understanding of another's situation, feelings, and motives. See Synonyms at pity.
   
2. The attribution of one's own feelings to an object.

Jackpot. I often put a lot of feelings into objects. My stuffed animal collection, which sits proudly on my bed slightly over flowing onto the self next it, is filled with my own feelings or at least something like them. Mr. Pickles, a small furry frog with a precocious bow tie, is especially filled with feelings. Whenever we talk to each other I find myself having to watch my words. Almost anything I say will send him into tears. He's such an emotional frog. But I supposed I can understand why. He lost his matching female frog (dressed in a fetching pink tutu) in the freak washer/dryer accident of 2002. It’s that kind of tragedy that anyone can understand. I can imagine myself losing my soulmate would be crushing. I think that’s what it boils down to. I can empathize with Mr. Pickles because I can see where he’s coming from. I can put myself in his place and at least attempt to identify with his situation. But Mrs. Pokey Bear, she’s just a diva.

Turns out the flower decision for the wedding was harder than originally anticitpated. Why? The two companies with contrasting styles with various pros and cons. Oh well. I guess we'll just have to use the dart board to decide. Sometimes the old ways are the best ways.

An arrangement from one of the flower firms. A small selection of satellite vessels surrounding the tall arrangement.

The time has come to toast our friends along,

With cheer and mirth we sing the Match Day song!

Lalalalalalalala~

It's match day today, and like all medical students all across the country, I learned my fate today. The day started at Gino's East. We all gathered at the third floor party room. The sealed envelopes were handed out along with poppers. Just before noon the countdown started and amongst a stream of confetti and poppers we opened our letters. I struggled with he envelope has I heard a steady stream of cheers behind me. But I was dazed. Even as I unfolded the papers, it seemed as if I were moving in slow motion. But finally I saw it, Children's Memorial Hospital. Here I come. Woot.

For anyone who's counting there is only one more week till match day and the beginning of my super senior slide. Yesterday, we had our monthly M4 class and cookie party, where we all get to bellyache together. It seems like I'm not alone in having these weird occult manifestations of tension. Sadly knowing that hasn't helped me.

So last night, more experiements.
Chicken Enchilada w/ Salsa Verde

In the interim I've been wasting away in the ER. It's not quite as intense as the show of the same name, but it is pretty fast paced (over 200 come through the emergency department a day). I've seen some interesting things; but nothing too crazy - some MVA, lots of chest pain and the occasional bulging rectal abscess.