Firestormm
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How does it make you feel when a doctor shakes you by the hand, or takes your hand when perhaps discussing/relating something of importance? Do you think doctors resist such contact these days? And what is the message behind such a demonstration?
My former ME Specialist Professor Tony Pinching happened to feature on a BBC Radio 4 programme yesterday morning, that was talking about hand-holding and what it might mean:
OK. It's a bit 'happy-clappy' for me in places but in relation to medical professionals and taking a patient's hand - as a matter of routine or one of especial significance - it made me think.
I sometimes go out of my way to shake a doctor by the hand. On occasion they look 'odd' when I do. Throughout most of my life I can honestly say that of all the doctors I have seen, very few have offered me their hand.
I think it should happen more often. I don't know why they don't practice this simple act. It establishes something - although I don't know what exactly; but because it doesn't happen often (and I was used to it in business) I think it takes something away from the relationship.
This was brought home to me last Friday when I met with a neurologist I hadn't met before. He was from another country and that might have made a difference perhaps, but his taking my hand before and after our meeting, certainly did make a difference.
Hard to quantify what that difference was though - sincerity? acknowledgement? endorsement? - it certainly wasn't a feeling of routine; but I'd hate to think that doctors in general only made the effort when imparting 'bad news' as with terminal patients.
How would you feel if a doctor was to shake you by the hand? Shocked? Alarmed? Scared?
I think I shall offer my hand to my non-hand-shaking GP when next I visit with him. See what he makes of it and report back. Will also see if he washes his hands afterwards - MRSA and all that!
My former ME Specialist Professor Tony Pinching happened to feature on a BBC Radio 4 programme yesterday morning, that was talking about hand-holding and what it might mean:
Holding Hands
Availability:
7 days left to listen
Duration:
30 minutes
First broadcast:
Sunday 16 June 2013
John McCarthy reflects on the significance of holding hands as an act of trust, commitment, unity and love between fellow human beings.
John interviews retired academic physician Professor Tony Pinching who had major involvement with HIV/AIDS and CFS/ME patients. Tony talks about the significance of the first handshake when a doctor meets a patient for the first time, and also about the special place holding hands can have at the end of a patient's life.
Ambassador Mart Tarmak describes the peaceful protest of 1989, which became known as the Baltic Way, when around two million people joined hands to form a human chain spanning 600 kilometres across the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. As the people held hands, they sang. These countries were granted their independence from the Soviet Union shortly afterwards.
The programme includes readings of poetry by Sarah Kay and Adrian Mitchell, and Sharon Olds' poem True Love. There's music from Stream of Sound, Ray Charles and Nina Simone, and John Martyn sings May you Never.
OK. It's a bit 'happy-clappy' for me in places but in relation to medical professionals and taking a patient's hand - as a matter of routine or one of especial significance - it made me think.
I sometimes go out of my way to shake a doctor by the hand. On occasion they look 'odd' when I do. Throughout most of my life I can honestly say that of all the doctors I have seen, very few have offered me their hand.
I think it should happen more often. I don't know why they don't practice this simple act. It establishes something - although I don't know what exactly; but because it doesn't happen often (and I was used to it in business) I think it takes something away from the relationship.
This was brought home to me last Friday when I met with a neurologist I hadn't met before. He was from another country and that might have made a difference perhaps, but his taking my hand before and after our meeting, certainly did make a difference.
Hard to quantify what that difference was though - sincerity? acknowledgement? endorsement? - it certainly wasn't a feeling of routine; but I'd hate to think that doctors in general only made the effort when imparting 'bad news' as with terminal patients.
How would you feel if a doctor was to shake you by the hand? Shocked? Alarmed? Scared?
I think I shall offer my hand to my non-hand-shaking GP when next I visit with him. See what he makes of it and report back. Will also see if he washes his hands afterwards - MRSA and all that!