Half a year ago my father was diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurysm - a swelling of the the main blood vessel that leads away from the heart, down through the abdomen to the rest of the body. This can be a very serious condition.
The first doctor told him that the size of the bulge was at a critical level, and he probably would be operated within a very few weeks. He was therefore send to the hospital where the operation, in that case, would take place. Here he was met by a doctor, who hardly expressed interest nor time available for his patient. My father was told that the first doctor was wrong, and he wasn't yet ready for an operation. "We'll call you in half a year". And that was it.
Left with no explanation, and a lot of insecurity.
Luckily he didn't settle for that, and asked for a second opinion. It took however 4 month to succeed with that, but that aside this consultation was totally different. The answer was more or less the same. The first doctor did actually make a mistake, and my father isn't ready for an operation yet. The message was however delivered in a totally different manner - and by a different doctor with a different mindset and set of skills. Patient, carefully explanatory, fully present and empathetic.
It was two very happy and grateful parents I spoke to on the phone this afternoon. The message was more or less the same but the was it was delivered made a world of difference.
I found the last doctor's e-mail on Google, and wrote him an email right away. He has just return my mail.
I am truly grateful for intelligent people in our health care system, especially when that also includes social intelligence!
The first doctor told him that the size of the bulge was at a critical level, and he probably would be operated within a very few weeks. He was therefore send to the hospital where the operation, in that case, would take place. Here he was met by a doctor, who hardly expressed interest nor time available for his patient. My father was told that the first doctor was wrong, and he wasn't yet ready for an operation. "We'll call you in half a year". And that was it.
Left with no explanation, and a lot of insecurity.
Luckily he didn't settle for that, and asked for a second opinion. It took however 4 month to succeed with that, but that aside this consultation was totally different. The answer was more or less the same. The first doctor did actually make a mistake, and my father isn't ready for an operation yet. The message was however delivered in a totally different manner - and by a different doctor with a different mindset and set of skills. Patient, carefully explanatory, fully present and empathetic.
It was two very happy and grateful parents I spoke to on the phone this afternoon. The message was more or less the same but the was it was delivered made a world of difference.
I found the last doctor's e-mail on Google, and wrote him an email right away. He has just return my mail.
I am truly grateful for intelligent people in our health care system, especially when that also includes social intelligence!