Janssen and Macleod in Pall & Supportive Care talk to patients and their caregivers about how doctors do (or do not) care for them as individuals. “Building a caring human relationship begins with doctors recognizing themselves and each patient as individuals first and foremost. A connection invited on that level provides a firm base on […]
What does care mean …? Read More »
Edouard Vuillard (1868-1940) – Louis Henry Vaquez at “La Pitié” hospital (1921), Oil on canvas, National Academy of Medicine, Paris The assistants take part in the general atmosphere and in the gestures of their chief and mentor, as they watch the patient, who constitutes the real focus of the painting; the lines drawn from the
that gaze and that hand … Read More »
A Balm for Gilead: Meditations on Spirituality and the Healing Arts by Daniel Sulmasy OFM MD PhD. One of the best lines … “Suffering is what remains when one’s control runs out.” (p 62) The funniest line … “Every honest wife should know that she will have no more control over her husband once he
a balm for gilead … Read More »
… is to be loved. The case of euthanasia in Quebec. One of the presentations at this weekend’s New York Encounter. While Quebec’s health care system lobbies to accommodate assisted suicide, a chorus of voices against this practice, that is federally outlawed, is heard on the front lines. A stream of witnesses, especially among medical
our primary need … Read More »
… provides individualized care to persons with dementia based on their need. A recent NYT article tells the story. “The dementia floor was named Vermillion Cliffs, after colorfully layered rock formations formed by centuries of erosion, implying that, “although weathered, although tested by dementia, people are beautiful” and “have certain strengths,” said Peggy Mullan, the
beatitudes nursing home … Read More »
… ” Look at what he says: “No, the part that is reserved to each individual, that is, what God wants for you, must be done by you.” There is no excuse, because it is not up to us to choose the road through which the Mystery leads the other to his destiny. We are the ones who have
accompanying the other in their suffering … Read More »
” … but the mother watches the sick child with serenity and holds his right arm reassuring him and giving us the feeling that everything will eventually be all right. In the drama, she stays, and affirms with her love that the disease cannot wipe out the goodness of life; as George Santaiana said: “He
you will not perish … Read More »
… an attitude of obedience … of following … ” … it is not up to us to choose the road through which the Mystery leads the other to his destiny. We are the ones who have to submit to the modality used by the Mystery to bring us and others to destiny: this is
accompanying those who suffer … Read More »
… John Waters’ describes an “extraordinary moment” between Michael Douglas and David Letterman. “You don’t sound like you have throat cancer,” Letterman said. “Because,” replied Douglas, “I’m on stage.” But at the end of the interview there occurred an extraordinary moment. Letterman asked Douglas if there was anything, he, Letterman, could do. It did not
vulnerability & presence on letterman … Read More »
Fiammetta Cappellini writes from the scene in Haiti. “The thing that concerns us most personally is the hotbed of the epidemic at Warf Jeremie, a neighborhood of Cité Soleil in the capital Port-au-Prince, where we help with the activities of Sister Marcella. We are all shocked by the escalation of the infection. From one suspect
cholera in haiti … Read More »
