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Dr Kannai brings us another story from her family medicine work in a small town, where she has practiced for many years. The story of Mr. Schwartz. Not all patients become so special for us, almost part of our life, part of our families. It seems that Mr. Schwartz was this kind of "very special patient" for Dr Kannai. Their emotional bonds were so close, and their mutual feelings had a long history.
These special patients stay with us, even many years after their death. I sometimes meet "my patients" in the graveyard, still vividly remembering them and feeling sad.
Interestingly, our emotions as family physicians, whether positive or negative, are not frequently expressed in the medical literature. Perhaps these issues are not so interesting?! Or, maybe, expressing your feelings as a physician, seems to be non-professional?
One possible way to express emotions is in Balint groups, which are also helpful in circumstances where our emotions overwhelm us and “get in our way”. By presenting such “cases”, where our emotional reactions cause us unpleasant feelings or even disturb our life, we can get great help from our colleagues.
Dr Kannai has another way of dealing with such difficulties, by writing stories. Her stories are so moving. Family physicians can connect to them, having similar experiences of their own. Many readers, who are not family physicians, might wonder about the depth of emotional bonds between physicians and patients. They are genuine and real!
I think that this is the true marvel of being a family physician in a community.