William Penn Life, 1969 (4. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1969-08-01 / 8-9. szám
YOUR DOCTOR By THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION The story is told on Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, famous American physician, that once when he visited a patient who has previously been quite ill, he found him sitting up, reading a weighty medical book. With a straight face and a twinkle in his eyes, Dr. Holmes said, “Be careful, my friend. I wouldn’t want to see you get worse or die because of a misprint.” It is true that Dr. Holmes had a point, although it is doubtful whether anybody, even an editor, has ever been killed by a typographical error. On the other hand, it is true that a large number of people do become ill from what may be a comparable situation, such as a misunderstanding of what they read or possibly a misinterpretation of their doctor’s words, his reactions, his facial expressions or his diagnostic language. There are illnesses stemming from such trivial causes and they have been given the technical name of iatrogenic ailments. It comes from the Greek word “iatro” meaning physician, and “genic” denoting “produced by”. Thus the word “iatrogenic” may be translated literally as “induced by the words or actions of a physician.” A good example is the after-effects of a medication or drug given for a specific ailment and resulting in another illness. Although the word “iatrogenic” originally specifically referred to such illnesses, it has, by common usage, acquired a much broader and more inclusive meaning. For example it could include illnesses caused by a patient’s misunderstanding diagnostic terminology. Just how can a person be made quite ill by misunderstanding his doctor? Let’s examine a hypothetical case that illustrates what could happen. Jones awakened one morning with a tight feeling in his chest. It wasn’t severe, and ordinarily he’d have given it only a passing thought. But several months earlier one of his business associates had suddenly died from a heart attack. Remembering that tragedy, Jones became alarmed about his own pain. “I may have a heart attack,” he thought. “I’d better see my doctor right away!” Several hours later Jones appeared at his doctor’s office. By this time his chest pain seemed worse, and his imagination began to run wild. He dreaded the examination, for he had already anticipated the doctor’s verdict—“only a few months to live.” When Jones went in to see the doctor, he immediately voiced his worst fears. The doctor merely smiled and said, “It may not be your heart at all, but we’ll find out.” Unfortunately, the busy doctor hadn’t had sufficient time to forget the sad plight of the patient who left his office as Jones came in. He was greatly concerned and still mentally absorbed in her troubles. “A very difficult and sad case, that poor young woman,” the doctor thought as he listened to Jones’ heart. “I don’t know what I’ll do for her, but I must watch her closely.” His deep concern and disturbing thought mirrored itself across his face, and Jones was quick to perceive it. He thought that the doctor’s apprehension was caused by what he observed in Jones’ heartbeat, and as he studied the doctor’s face, his fears 6
