Tim — I don’t believe that is an imponderable at all. In fact, I do believe that if the doctor behaves and engages as a partner with the family, then yes, there should be an acknowledgment that the doctor is suffering after a mistake is made, too. At the very least, I don’t believe any doctor intends to make a mistake. No doubt it’s a difficult experience that it deserves compassion — sometimes. Even, perhaps, most of the time.

There is a huge difference, however, between a doctor who is engaged with the family or patient and is truly saddened by the mistake, and one who is not. In my case, not only would the oncologist who participated in my misdiagnosis (by not reading the test results that indicated another report was missing, the one that eventually showed I had no cancer at all) NOT admit he had made a mistake, but he also sent me a three page letter explaining how he had been right! That was after the NIH had already proven he was wrong. There was never an apology, never any indication that he had erred. He was arrogant and egotistical and believe me, I have no sympathy for him or his feelings AT all.

Do I think that the oncologist who tried to treat me is the norm? Absolutely not. But if there is one thing I’ve learned as I have jumped into the entire topic of healthcare, it is that we can’t make blanket decisions — not about diagnoses, treatment, or even whether any participant — patient or physician — deserves compassion.

Thanks for posting. I didn’t know about your blog or Dr. Bernstein’s — always like to find new sources of info and food for thought.

Trisha

Yo might find yesterday’s post (Dec. 27) on the Bioethics Discussion Blog interesting. Dr. Bernstein asks if physicians shouldn’t get a bit of the compassion when they make a mistake.

Another of those imponderables you could discuss with Dr. Eastwood.

Thanks for your thoughts.