Cell 2 Soul: The Humane Health Care Blog

Cure for the Common Cold

A fine essay by David Watts appeared in a recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.  Unfortunately, it is not available free to the public.  It begins with this paragraph.

image from migraine-livinginpain.blogspot.com/

"Rumor has it that the medical profession suffers from too many cold and distant doctors. Studies have attempted to subject this notion to the scrutiny of science, and although we could argue over their degree of success, we know it's true. We need only ask our patients in order to be regaled with stories confirming the accusation. Cold. Yet we didn't start out that way."

 

Some of you will have access to NEJM, but those who don't can contact Dr. Watts for a copy.  Congratulations, Dr Watts!  This is an article that all of us will mull over and benefit from reading.

Cure for the Common Cold
David Watts
New England Journal of Medicine, September 27, 2012, p. 1184-85

 

Plato's Doctors

In Laws, Plato wrote that there are two classes of patients, slaves and freemen. And, similarly two kinds of doctors:  slave doctors and freemen doctors. Slave doctors run about and cure the slaves, or wait for them in the dispensaries; while free doctors attend and practice upon freemen. They carry enquiries far back, and go into the nature of the disorder. They enter into discourse with their patients, instructing them as far as they are able.  For the full quote go to: Download Plato Physician  .

      

So, what has changed since Plato made this observation?

Reading Binges

by Nicholas Davies.  British Medical Journal, 1989:299;1209-1210

If there is nothing to read in heaven, I am not sure I want to go.     Aristides (Joseph Epstein)

As summer approaches in these northern climes, one looks forward to an annual holiday at the beach or in the woods.  For some, "too long in cities pent" it will be an opportunity to spend time with great literature.  In 1989, Nicholas Davies published a memorable essay on this subject in the British Medical Journal.  Since it can be hard to access, we have attached a pdf here: Download Reading Binges 1

You will enjoy this piece.  Perhaps is will help you to crystallize a reading program for your upcoming summer's continuous education.

Reading Binges is all the more poignant since Davies died in a plane crash not long after the piece was published.

(Photo from NY Times article on Summer Reading)

The Care of the Patient by F.W. Peabody

Francis Weld Peabody’s The Care of the Patient is the most cited article in the medical literature.  This is even more impressive when one considers that it deals exclusively with the humane aspects of medicine and not science.   All care providers, patients and patient's family members  would benefit from reading and rereading it every few years.  It is especially important for medical students and trainees.  The Care of the Patient used to be on the web - but not any longer.  We had a student type it out a few years back and you can find it: Download The_care_of_the_patient 1