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Show r r i j - r - - FF ' L ' L - - You Said It j r I Don 't expect doctor j to be perfect I Editor: I The disparaging editorial dated I April 14 regarding your perceived I I I ineptitude of the medical profession I 'concerned me deeply. You have I held the medical profession, and I doctors in particular, up against a mirror of impossible expectations. I It seems that you ask, expect and I even demand perfection in an imperfect world. It troubles me, as it obviously does you and others, that mistakes in diagnosis were made not once, not twice, but several times in the history of this unfortunate family. My purpose is not to justify these errors. My intent is to ask for a critical analysis of the I true issue; imperfection and human J error. Over the last two decades much discussion has taken place regarding regar-ding the perception that doctors act fcjl view themselves as gods or urnigods. Perhaps this attitude has been engendered by expectations from people such as yourself who anticipate flawless thought and action ac-tion from those providing health care for you and your family. This issue becomes much more volatile because the consequences can mean the difference between life and death, full function or impaired quality of life. However, we all live in a very imperfect world and unfortunately unfor-tunately we are all human beings. I know of no institution, organization, organiza-tion, person, place or thing that is indefectible in existence today. Those with differing delusions or expectations must wait for another life or dimension for fulfillment. To single out one profession, one institution, one family or one person and require perfection, no questions asked, is absurd and uneducated. Is not journalism just as damaging to the health of families and individuals? in-dividuals? Are there not numerous examples of ruined reputations, ruined careers, ruined personal images resulting from irresponsible reports containing poorly researched, resear-ched, undocumented, one-sided information? in-formation? Have not lives been ended or altered permanently by "normal" people making the wrong diagnosis, making an inappropriate inap-propriate left turn into the path of an oncoming automobile, driving when exhausted and falling asleep at the wheel veering into oncoming traffic? Errors in judgment. Are there any of us above reproach? I am not trying to justify mistakes or errors in the medical profession. These occur and will continue to occur just as they do in every other aspect of this life. Are computers, robots, or other machines the answer? an-swer? I hope not No one will ever reproduce the caring touch of another an-other human being, a kind word or genuine action. Give me a human to care for my human frailties. Perhaps the error has been to try and lose this humanity in attempting attemp-ting to deliver perfection, to try and become gods or demigods in attempting at-tempting to deliver flawless care. The ultimate goal of perfect judgment judg-ment and perfect practice is laudable and desirable, but the fact is, we are imperfect beings living in an imperfect world. R. Pepper Murray, M.D. Bountiful |