This was an incredibly authentic article by Dr. Timothy Gilligan in JCO called "Knuckleheads". It tells the story of two patients that get easily labeled as those who seemingly decline care or fail to follow our advice (i.e., "AMA").
When we do not think beyond the diagnosis and fail to earn our patients' trust, there are potentially many circumstances or socioeconomic factors behind the scenes that we ignore and fail to understand. By not putting a greater emphasis on listening to our patients with empathy, we do a real disservice to the individual behind the illness who could have a unique (and even empowering) real-world story to tell. In short, we are NOT ENTITLED TO our patients' trust and have to earn it. This theme extends beyond just oncology and sadly applies to the entire medical field.
Key concepts from Dr. Gilligan:
💡 “Every time I open my mouth, I risk making things worse... So I committed to listening and curiosity and humility."
💡 "It all seemed so unfair to me that I wanted to cry, to have all this land on him at once—cancer, abandonment, a child in crisis, financial instability. He was overwhelmed. I let him know that I saw that, that I was moved by it."
💡 "What surprised me about these two patients is that no one seems to have heard their stories during their initial encounters with the health care system. The only story that was heard was the story of the tumor, the focus of our tumor boards. And yet it only became possible to treat them when we learned their human story."
💡 "Human decision making is complex and influenced by many factors."
💡 "I am not entitled to my patients' trust. It is something I have to earn each time I walk into the room."
💡 "One way to earn it is to listen and to be responsive to what I hear. I try to remember where the locus of control lies. It is their life, it is their illness, and it is their decision."
💡 "I can advise them and help them understand their options. Together, we can explore what is most important to them. But I do not get to tell them what to do."
💡 "If they decline to follow sound medical advice, maybe there is something important that I do not know. IF I STOP TALKING, MAYBE THEY WILL TELL ME."
Full article at JCO: https://lnkd.in/gAnkDCp9
#patientcare #empathy #listeningskills #healthcare #medicaladvice #empowering #patientstories #earntrust #doctors #oncology
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↗ Hardeep Phull MD | Cancer Doctor | Scientist | Pilot | Truth Seeker | Force & Voice Multiplier | Educator | Speaker | Travel Blogger | Girl Dad & Husband
Advisor Policy & Communication CANCERless.EU & FEANTSA | Global Health Specialist | M.Phil Psycho-oncology | Member IPOS | Founder Conscious Connection | Co-founder Lymphoma Support Group India
7moDear Ton, it was a pleasure to hear your insights. Congratulations on your insightful talk..