Rules for practice in 2008

In 2008 I resolve: To answer every phone call the same day the call was made. The call may be trivial to me, but it may be important to someone else. To slow down. I will remember that the patient and his or her relatives are anxious. Because they are anxious, I will not rush. I will ask what they want to say, and listen to the answer. I will not interrupt, even to clarify something. I will remember that many people are not verbal. They cannot describe what is wrong, but, instead, expect me to somehow know. John R Taylor I will not scare people with informed consents. I will be reasonable in discussing the risks of surgery. I will say, “in this operation I will be worried about...”. I will recommend surgery only if I am convinced there is a very high chance of helping the patient. I will surgically change the patient’s appearance only if the problem is immediately apparent. I will decline all minor changes that are seen by the patient only. I will do only one consultation for one problem at one visit. No more triple consults ‘while we are at it’. I will communicate more by my demeanor and smile, and less with words. I will make fewer notes while the patient is in the consulting room, and leave my notes for later. I will look at the patient’s face when I explain what is wrong. I will use clear, nonmedical language, and repeat it slowly. I will suggest the safest anesthetic that will allow me to perform the operation properly. I will assume nothing about what the patient understands. I will remember the word ‘patient’ means sufferer, and put myself in the patient’s position imagining myself in the other chair looking at me. I will remove all abruptness and criticism from my tone. I will make haste slowly. I will try to be on time. I will refer to colleagues with more expertise than I for a second opinion. I will write honest referral letters that include my diagnosis. I will avoid all unnecessary tests, instead relying on my clinical experience in making a diagnosis. I will tell patients the diagnosis I think is correct and avoid long lists of possibilities. I will tell patients the one best treatment, the one I recommend, clearly and with confidence. I will explain the second-best treatment and why my first treatment is the best, but I will not confuse by recommending more than two possible treatments. Even if surrounded by troubled people I resolve to be kind, courteous and patient to all. I will remember aequanimitas. I resolve not to talk about myself but rather listen to other people. I will remember that the world does not revolve around me. I resolve not to play the ‘can you top this’ game. No one wants to know I have had more troubles than they have. I will not take second-hand gossip or interpreted stories as fact. I will avoid people who sincerely generalize on the basis of one experience. I will remember that not all questions are questions. When asked what I think of vitamin E on scars, I will wait until the patient tells me what they already believe. I will not try to change a believer’s mind. I will not ask rhetorical questions in the consulting room. Socrates does not live here anymore. I will never discuss politics in the consulting room. I will encourage and give the patient hope. I will wash my hands before every patient visit and not wear a long tie. I will rely on my charts, not my memory, in the operating room I will encourage relatives to attend the consultation, particularly mothers and daughters, and watch their relationship. I will not overbook. I will learn how to say “no” graciously. I will telephone referring doctors regarding difficult cases, explaining my advice. I will be positive every day. I will enjoy my practice and thank my lucky stars for being able to do this fascinating work.

Récupéré en direct depuis OpenAlex et désinversé. Les résumés ne sont pas conservés dans cette base de données : les index inversés représentent 8,6 Go des 9,3 Go de texte de la base, et le serveur dispose de 13 Go libres.