medicaTED

TED talks started in 1984 in Monterey, California. The word TED is actually an abbreviation for technology, entertainment, and design. Each TED talk withholds very innovative people, speaking to an audience about something they have discovered or realized through hard work.  In Long Beach, California in 2011, Abraham Verghese spoke on the behalf of medicine.

In his speech, he talks about the problem with doctors in the modern world. Professionals rely so much on technology to diagnose patients that they are missing the one on one care that the patient truly wants. He said a really funny statement that went something like this, "you could go into a hospital with a missing leg and say that your leg is missing but doctors will still want to do a CT scan before agreeing with you". He then goes to talk about his experience as a doctor and tells a story about a women he was giving a physical to. He proceeded to touch her hands, look at her fingernails, and basically interact with her on a physical level. She exclaimed that she had never had a doctor touch her before, and was really happy that a professional was actually taking the time to do what they're supposed to do, perform a physical. 

He later goes on and talks about rituals. Verghese says that there is something very beautiful about the patient and physician relationship. A patient will allow a doctor to touch him or her and talk about certain topics that most men and women wouldn't even go into with their loved ones, priests, etc. The ritual, he explains, is special because you have to "touch the patient in very intimate ways because it seals the patient physician relationship". Which is fascinating because being allowed to touch a stranger and basically disrobing them, having someone so vulnerable right in front of you, yet having them fully trust you, truly is a beautiful thing.

I would gladly recommend this TED talk to those who have very open minds are mature. People who don't understand the beauty of touch and trust probably wouldn't like this video because you have to really think about someone's vulnerability. For example, in the video, Verghese talks about a woman who had breast cancer and got amazing attention at a hospital, yet no one would touch her breasts. She was very upset because no physician would take the time to actually touch her. To have someone who desired the touch of one's private body is a very unique and interesting situation, one that causes great desperation and vulnerability. It just made me realize that the time a doctor does spend on you is incredibly special, because those who have serious illnesses might not be getting the same one-on-one care.

For those of you whose interests are piqued, here's the video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxnlvwprf_c

Enjoy!