Give me a Hand
Group 13
Text extracts reflecting both positive and negative commentary about the current healthcare profession sourced from medical education and the media frame a drawing aimed to re-focus our attention on compassionate intent, and the power of a mutually positive relationship between medic and patient.
Jordan Tomos Lin, Llewelyn Lloyd, Sophie Hannah Lloyd, Aquiline Lobo, Jonathan Lorimer, Catriona Laura Lowe, Louise Alexander Lowry, Catarina Machado, Murray James Mackay, Zachary Cameron Maclellan, Nina Jade Mangan.
Year One, Foundations of Medicine Conference. 2018.
This piece caught my attention as it highlights an highly relevant medical topic at the moment: the patient-doctor relationship. In my mind, the hand extending the stethoscope towards the clenched fist is that of the doctor’s. The openness of the doctor’s hand perhaps symbolizes the movement of medical care away from the paternalistic model and towards the informed model in which the doctor offers the patient information, but it is up to the patient to make the decision. Equally, the fact that both hands are in contact with the stethoscope could suggest that the doctor and patient discuss healthcare options together before coming to a joint decision and thus illustrates the shared (mutual) model of doctor-patient relationships. I think this can be further seen in many of the positive commentary boxes around the outside, one of which stating, ” Doctors and patients are ever more encouraged to serve as partners in clinical care,” thus illustrating the fundamental principle of the shared model. Regardless of the model, it seems that the public desire a doctor-patient relationship in which they are clearly communicated with, allowing greater health literacy and involvement in their healthcare, as shown in some of the negative commentary boxes. Overall I found that the ambiguity of the central image, complemented by the surrounding commentary, made for an interesting piece that highlights the public’s views of patient-doctor relationships.
This piece stood out to me as regardless of the comments being made a torch is still being handed down to the next in the form of a stethoscope. Representing the tireless onwards march of the medical profession and the need to continue delivering healthcare. As well as that I think that doctors are in a profession that requires them to be life long learners and that they need to learn how to be better by the comments that are being made to them and use them as feedback. This showcases that continuous learning and reflection are yet another aspect of the profession as it is crucial to be able to deliver the best possible care.
This piece grabbed my attention as it exemplifies how the doctor-patient relationship suffers due to a failing NHS system. It is important to remember that when patients are frustrated with doctors, doctors are also frustrated with management and how they are being treated. Doctors would like to do more for their patients if they had the time and resources but often have so many things working in their brain that they come across as “a perceived lack of respect”. However, the quotes in Green show how doctors are still viewed as one of the most trusted professions. The drawing itself shows both hands on the stethoscope which displays how both the patient and doctor are vital in restoring and maintain the relationship between them.