This post is not about seeking self-pity or even pity. It's not about being self-absorbed or demanding recognition. Take it as an explanation of part of why I want to become a physician.
We expect our physicians to be smart, charismatic, efficient, understanding, accommodating, prompt, careful, considerate, communicative, accessible, honest, dignified, altruistic, confidential, attentive, dedicated, hardworking, caring, informative, right, proactive...the list goes on. Those are a lot of expectations. It's rightfully so that we expect so much from physicians. And, physicians know this. They took the Hippocratic Oath the moment they graduate from medical school. At my school, I took the Hippocratic Oath at my White Coat Ceremony in my first year. Physicians understand not only their duty, but their value to their patients.
Why so many expectations? Why are they justified? Because physicians don't necessarily handle things in your life. Physicians handle your life. Not your money, not your car, not your house, not your work, not your schedule. You. Your money can come and go. But, you, you can't. You can't die and come back. (Well, maybe give science and research a few more years...)
Without you, you can't have the things in your life. Imagine not being able to buy a home, marry the person of your dreams, drive your favorite car, read a book on the porch, travel the world, see your parents or kids, talk with your friends, walk, occasionally indulge in your sins and vices, live long enough to see your grandkids, have sex, and all the other little joys of life.
You seek physicians when you're in pain, sick, and/or distressed whether it's because of your volition or of the encouragement of others or when it's your last resort or whenever you want to. Physicians are bound by an oath to treat and care for any patient who seeks them. Now, when I say treat and care, physicians must consider the medical benefits and costs, your personal beliefs and feelings, resources available, and ethical principles. All of this biosocioethical consideration on top of the intellectual demands of figuring out what is medically wrong with you.
The burden of integrating the nuts and bolts of scientific medicine for a diagnosis, the patient's feelings and views, and the physician's own feelings and views can be overwhelming at times. Treatment and care encompass all these factors, which ultimately leads to handling your life. It's not easy. Being a physician is extremely and exorbitantly demanding.
I wouldn't want to be anything else...but, check back with me when I actually have that MD title if I survive the onslaught of 2nd year.
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