RT Book, Section
A1 Oke, Oluchi C.
A1 Epner, Daniel E.
A2 Epner, Daniel E.
SR Print(0)
ID 1190085925
T1 Only 4 of 6 Cycles
T2 Empathy: Real Stories to Inspire and Enlighten Busy Clinicians
YR 2022
FD 2022
PB McGraw Hill LLC
PP New York, NY
SN 9781260473414
LK hemonc.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1190085925
RD 2024/04/19
AB HER  WORDS  LANDED  like  a  hard  slap  across  my  face,  but  her  tone  was  more  resignation  than  anger:  “I  don't  trust  you.”  Queasiness  welled  up  in  my  stomach.  How  can  anyone  not  trust  me?  I  am  the  consummate  professional,  attired  in  fashionable  but  not  flashy  clothing,  understated  jewelry  and  a  starched  white  coat.  My  hair  is  always  perfect.  I  sit  at  eye  level,  listen  generously,  and  address  my  patients  with  respect  and  authenticity.  I  show  up  for  work  early  and  stay  late,  because  my  parents  always  said,  “If  you  show  up  on  time,  you  are  late.”  I  keep  up  with  all  the  latest  medical  advances  and  treat  all  my  patients  with  the  utmost  respect  and  compassion,  whether  rich  or  poor,  Black  or  White.  Perhaps  most  importantly,  I  am  honest.  I  tell  patients  with  stage  IV  cancer,  “I  am  afraid  your  cancer  is  not  curable”,  but  then  I  quickly  add,  “But  it  is  treatable.”  I  epitomize  trust,  so  I  must  have  misheard  my  patient.  I  asked,  “You  don't  trust  me?”  “That's  right;  I  don't  trust  you  or  any  of  your  people.”  I  can  understand  why  a  few  of  my  patients  may  wonder,  “Does  this  young  doctor  have  enough  experience  to  take  good  care  of  me?  Her  name  looks  African.  Did  she  train  in  America  or  in  some  foreigncountry?”  However,  their  skepticism  quickly  melts  away  after  they  get  to  know  me  and  find  out  that  I  trained  at  prestigious  U.S.  institutions.  I  take  great  pride  in  connecting  with  my  patients,  but  I  had  obviously  failed  miserably  with  this  woman.  I  needed  to  figure  out  a  way  to  regain  her  trust.