Comments on: Attending to a Patient’s Funeral

By: cathy

cathy — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:31:27 +0000

Just remember that your patients can not do what you do. They come to you for help, and instead of finding a cold clinician, they find a human being. Just as it’s obvious that you don’t find a patient so much as a person with hopes and dreams and a life. That you care that much speaks volumes. All patients should be fortunate enough to have a doctor like you. And anyone who would know you would know that you went to the funeral because you care. Dr. Seuss once said something like, “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

By: geetha

geetha — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:57:15 +0000

so touching. even if the family and friends never express it, i am sure they will be filled with gratitude to have a doctor in the funeral of a loved one.
thanks for sharing your thoughts. may your tribe increase.

By: Sick Momma

Sick Momma — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:13:07 +0000

Wow. So beautifully written, so moving.

I think if I were at the funeral, I might be surprised to see you there. Not because I thought you didn’t belong, but because I didn’t know doctors still had that kind of relationship with their patients anymore. What a blessing you are for your patients.

I found your blog via Grand Rounds, and I will definitely be returning.

By: dr. bean

dr. bean — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:59:07 +0000

I am freshly come from just such a funeral. Yes, a thousand times, yes, and thank you for expressing it so well.

By: AndrewAtla

AndrewAtla — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:48:31 +0000

It is gratifying and inspiring to see a physician who cares so much about his patients, is so invested in their lives--and their fates--and who can express his thoughts so beautifully. I am the photographer who took the angel image. drc - a special thanks to you! I forgot to credit your image directly. Beautiful shot.

By: medaholic

medaholic — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:15:18 +0000

Beautifully written. The patient story is such an integral part of medicine, and I believe that because you have taken the time to know your patients, not just their disease, you have made their lives better.

By: Aurora

Aurora — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:58:21 +0000

This was really beautifully written, thank you. When my friend died very young from lung cancer, while we were all in college, the entire team that treated him came to the funeral and it was incredibly moving and thoughtful.

By: Kory Prentice

Kory Prentice — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:44:40 +0000

A rare gem in the Blogosphere – thanks for sharing. The importance of the attendance at funerals of members of the caring profession cannot be emphasized enough. It truly demonstrates a continuum of care that does not end at death, but continues in a show of support for the survivors (family & friends) as well as honouring the final life milestone of a human being.

By: Dream Mom

Dream Mom — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 07:45:26 +0000

Beautifully written.

I am glad I found your blog again. I loved reading your stories. I added you to my feed list today.

By: BLG

BLG — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:52:02 +0000

Many years ago when I was 20 years old, a friend of mine went home during the middle of the day only to find herself face to face with a burglar. She died from her injuries. She was 21 years old. I still think about her now and again. I read your post earlier today and it brought up memories of that day when I heard the news of Kelly and then attending her funeral. We were all too young to really be facing the death of one of ours who was so very young, with her adult life just really beginning. Those of us who were her friends finished college, entered the work force, got married, all the things that people do that she never got to do.

As a physician, you have the opportunity to see into peoples lives because of the nature of your work. The life of a human being — well, I don’t imagine you can help but be touched somehow by another human being. I think most of us do not realize how difficult it can be for a physician caring for someone’s health but in the end, people/patients succumb to what all life will succumb to. I guess I never really thought about it.

The ER docs that worked on my friend — they never got to know her even briefly. She went to the ER unconscious with serious injuries and left the ER without her life. I can only imagine it was difficult for the ER docs to see someone so young and be unable to save her.