Guest guest Posted June 22, 2003 Report Share Posted June 22, 2003 Emmanuel: " I have to admit, Brian, when I was closer to your age, I rather enjoyed finding answers to difficult questions. As I've aged and more and more poetry (of various kinds) has percolated its way through me, I'm finding questions to be ever more compelling and satisfying all by themselves ... that is to say without answers. By resisting the temptation to completely answer a question, one is forced to keep one's eyes open and remain alert and mindful. Kind of an interesting practice. I've actually identified this little trick of consciousness practiced slightly more often by professional women than by professional men. Thus, when I find this attitude displayed in a gentleman of some accomplishment, I take special note. " Ah, a good point- it does seem that whenever I do answer a question, or find AN answer to a question, it raises still more- the questions pop up faster than answers can be found- so I have no problem living with that- and practice appears to be more of a process of relating to the patient as you perceive them with your state of knowledge, insight, and openness at the time, plus applying your skill level- we can only expand our knowledge and skills, and leave it to God to decide who to send us at each point in time... that is a humbling process, to realize you cannot achieve or rely upon becoming perfect as a healer - comfort must come from something else. I wonder though if patients are as accepting of the fact that this is more of a process and relationship- some seek the wizard... and some marketers have done a great job of selling the idea that medicine is all about one answer for each question, that doctors know everything, that science is endlessly pursued and immediately applied to clinical practice (is their real experience of the limitations of western medical practice as vivid to them as the marketing messages and the archetypes to which they appeal?) - and some doctors believe they must play the know-it-all part because patients are by definition weakened and need to lean on their power- actually one of the many books I am partway through is called the Healer's Power by Howard Brody, on just that topic. B Brian Benjamin Carter, M.Sci., L.Ac. http://www.pulsemed.org/briancarterbio.htm Acupuncturist & Herbalist Editor, The Pulse of Oriental Medicine Columnist, Acupuncture Today (619) 208-1432 San Diego (866) 206-9069 x 5284 Tollfree Voicemail The PULSE of Oriental Medicine http://www.pulsemed.org/ The General Public's Guide to Chinese Medicine since 1999... 9 Experts, 240+ Articles, 195,000+ readers.... Our free e-zine BEING WELL keeps you up to date Sign up NOW. Send a blank email to: beingwellnewsletter- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2003 Report Share Posted June 22, 2003 I wonder though if patients are as accepting of the fact that this is moreof a process and relationship- some seek the wizard... and some marketershave done a great job of selling the idea that medicine is all about oneanswer for each question, that doctors know everything, that science isendlessly pursued and immediately applied to clinical practice (is theirreal experience of the limitations of western medical practice as vivid tothem as the marketing messages and the archetypes to which they appeal?) >>>Every day i tell patients "i have no idea"and then proceed telling theoretical answers to questions, making sure they understand that these are just speculations including many so called biomedical explanation, or diagnosis's they have.In my specialty this is so common as so much of what people are told are based on imaging studies that more often than not are meaningless Alon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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