Thank you for sharing. This is the tide we must always monitor, moving our position to avoid being swallowed by the ocean or drying out in the sun. Thank you for reminding us all of our humanity and our need to self monitor for the good of our clients and ourselves.
Thank you. My mom passed away two weeks ago, age 87. My dad, age 87 just came to live with me in Florida. He was not receiving good medical care in Ohio so your story gives me hope. I need to find him a doctor who cares enough to listen to him and helps him with the very few problems he now has so he can live many more years
Intellectual AND emotional engagement are slowly being driven out of the helping professions (I'm a psychologist who bailed on that.) People who were once great "chefs" are being relegated to "cook" status and being told to just follow the recipes they're given. Vinay, your story is both inspiring and -- I hope -- an example. I also hope you beat this drum again, from time to time. Thank you.
Vinay, I am generally not very sentimental, but this essay made me teary. This is so much of what makes being a doctor being a doctor that most people do not understand. The corporatization of medicine (shown clearly by the covid reaction/nonsense) has deprecated many parts of this, sadly.
But you encapsulated the essence of the "art" of medicine perfectly. Kudos and thanks.
It's (or should be) very humbling to be a doc, a nurse, a parent, a nursing assistant - entrusted with someone's life, including quality of life. Thanks for sharing your experience and experiences.
Beautiful story. My father battled cancer to the end. At 91, he survived surgery to remove his cancerous parotid gland. We didn’t think he’d survive the long surgery. After numerous rounds of radiation treatments, he did succumb at 93. He was an active man all his life, ate sensibly, and was always engaged mentally. He was very blessed with good health until the cancer struck and that healthy lifestyle, no doubt, helped him live as long as he did. We are VERY thankful to all the doctors and nursing staff who helped him along his journey. They all loved him and his positivity. Many became very attached to him and cried with us when he died. When we see someone who valiantly does not want to give up on life, it can be both difficult and astounding to watch. Being with him when he died was both a privilege and a great sorrow for me. I can’t imagine how difficult it is for doctors and other medical staff who have to see this daily. Saying “Thank You “ is the least we can do.
I'm a recently retired 74 year old MD, Ob/Gyn who has been doing rural primary care. Yes, I have sent and received patients to and from the oncologist. This is a story of the alpha and omega. Two 80 year old females with colon cancer, surgery and chemo. One decided she was getting sick form the chemo, and stopped taking it. After six years she is a healthy 86 year old living at home, taking care of herself with no evidence of recurrence. The other lady chose to continue her chemo and succumbed to the chemo a few months later. Sometimes it is hard to know when to quit and when is "ahead." It is easy to confuse the symptoms of the illness from the symptoms of treatment. The answer to that is something that we as providers should at least try to know and advise the patient accordingly, but sometimes they don't listen.
On the other hand, I don't think treatment should be withheld simply because somebody is 90 years old. These decisions need to be weighed carefully and individually. What is the risk of chemo Vs the potential for a good life after chemo?
amazing story. I could really use more positive stories to help us balance out the reason for what we do as healthcare providers amongst the cynicism for how hard our current sociopolitical milieu makes it to practice decent ethics.
Beautiful, humanity-filled piece. Thank you, Dr. Prasad.
Thank you for sharing. This is the tide we must always monitor, moving our position to avoid being swallowed by the ocean or drying out in the sun. Thank you for reminding us all of our humanity and our need to self monitor for the good of our clients and ourselves.
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
It’s very nice that the daughter took time to write to you. The art of gratitude amongst some patients has been lost.
I just love this - herein lies the art, and the joy, of primary care.
Thank you. My mom passed away two weeks ago, age 87. My dad, age 87 just came to live with me in Florida. He was not receiving good medical care in Ohio so your story gives me hope. I need to find him a doctor who cares enough to listen to him and helps him with the very few problems he now has so he can live many more years
Intellectual AND emotional engagement are slowly being driven out of the helping professions (I'm a psychologist who bailed on that.) People who were once great "chefs" are being relegated to "cook" status and being told to just follow the recipes they're given. Vinay, your story is both inspiring and -- I hope -- an example. I also hope you beat this drum again, from time to time. Thank you.
Beautiful.
Vinay, I am generally not very sentimental, but this essay made me teary. This is so much of what makes being a doctor being a doctor that most people do not understand. The corporatization of medicine (shown clearly by the covid reaction/nonsense) has deprecated many parts of this, sadly.
But you encapsulated the essence of the "art" of medicine perfectly. Kudos and thanks.
👏👏👏💗
It's (or should be) very humbling to be a doc, a nurse, a parent, a nursing assistant - entrusted with someone's life, including quality of life. Thanks for sharing your experience and experiences.
Beautiful story. My father battled cancer to the end. At 91, he survived surgery to remove his cancerous parotid gland. We didn’t think he’d survive the long surgery. After numerous rounds of radiation treatments, he did succumb at 93. He was an active man all his life, ate sensibly, and was always engaged mentally. He was very blessed with good health until the cancer struck and that healthy lifestyle, no doubt, helped him live as long as he did. We are VERY thankful to all the doctors and nursing staff who helped him along his journey. They all loved him and his positivity. Many became very attached to him and cried with us when he died. When we see someone who valiantly does not want to give up on life, it can be both difficult and astounding to watch. Being with him when he died was both a privilege and a great sorrow for me. I can’t imagine how difficult it is for doctors and other medical staff who have to see this daily. Saying “Thank You “ is the least we can do.
Wow! I love this story. Thank you for being willing to balance these difficult perspectives of being close but not too close. That is GREAT medicine.
I'm a recently retired 74 year old MD, Ob/Gyn who has been doing rural primary care. Yes, I have sent and received patients to and from the oncologist. This is a story of the alpha and omega. Two 80 year old females with colon cancer, surgery and chemo. One decided she was getting sick form the chemo, and stopped taking it. After six years she is a healthy 86 year old living at home, taking care of herself with no evidence of recurrence. The other lady chose to continue her chemo and succumbed to the chemo a few months later. Sometimes it is hard to know when to quit and when is "ahead." It is easy to confuse the symptoms of the illness from the symptoms of treatment. The answer to that is something that we as providers should at least try to know and advise the patient accordingly, but sometimes they don't listen.
On the other hand, I don't think treatment should be withheld simply because somebody is 90 years old. These decisions need to be weighed carefully and individually. What is the risk of chemo Vs the potential for a good life after chemo?
amazing story. I could really use more positive stories to help us balance out the reason for what we do as healthcare providers amongst the cynicism for how hard our current sociopolitical milieu makes it to practice decent ethics.
Three take-aways for the Georgia Senate Runoff: Herschel Walker's stand for health freedom contrasts Raphael Warnock's recent "not voting"
https://leemuller.substack.com/p/georgia-senate-runoff-herschel-walkers