When confronting serious medical decisions our attitude should be one of openness and wonder in front of a Mystery greater than ourselves. We set aside preconceptions and attend to the person in need as well as those who are serving him (doctors, nurses, chaplains, others). As we journey together, we weigh the burdens and benefits […]
… not that God became a man … but that he became a baby. “We all know the strength of presence and love. At night in our homes, being alone makes us afraid. Having a loved one there ― any loved one ― gives us courage. In our families, being in the presence of love,
the great mystery of Christmas … Read More »
NYT’s As Doctors Use More Devices, Potential for Distraction Grows a related post …
distracted doctoring … Read More »
The mystery of suffering seems to blur the face of God, making Him almost a stranger, or even identifying him as being responsible for human suffering, but the eyes of faith are able to look deeply into this mystery … [we best heal by] … accompanying, being close to and caring for sick brothers and
to blur the face of God … Read More »
… who decide when Christ is here or not … DISCOVERING THE FAMILIARITY OF A PRESENCE I would like to tell you about something that happened to me that opened up my heart. A few months ago, my husband Andrea brought one of his patients who had cancer into our home. She had been operated
we are always the ones … Read More »
“Not every patient can be saved, but his illness may be eased by the way the doctor responds to him – and in responding to him, the doctor may save himself. But first he must become a student again; he has to dissect the cadaver of his professional persona; he must see that his silence
how ‘the doctor may save himself’ … Read More »
Imperative 1 To serve selflessly our dying brothers and sisters who come into our care. Whatever material success we doctors have achieved is not of our own design. Society has valued our services and agreed to compensate us well for our efforts on its behalf. Have we lived up to our end of the bargain?
selfless service … Read More »
Imperative 2 To meet the real needs of the dying. What dying patients need first and foremost is a safe environment. They need to know that our care for them is not contingent upon something they do or do not do. They need to know that we care about them as persons worthy of dignity
safe … accompany … presence … Read More »
Imperative 3 To guide but never lead. We have great knowledge and must use it wisely. We are called by the dying to be their guides through this final passage. It is the height of arrogance to believe we can somehow lead them through the end of life, step-by-step. We are simply to be guides
to guide … to accompany … Read More »
… when their loved one is seriously ill … assure their loved one is receiving high quality care provide appropriate information adequate time to share perspectives and concerns accurate information about prognosis empathic communication and support trust anticipatory grief and bereavement from Billing’s End of Life Family Meeting Part I: Indications, Outcomes, and Family Needs
