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| Rhetoric in medicine is just as crucial of a toolbox as these |
Since
ancient times, the doctor has been an exemplar of rhetorical prowess. The issue
often presents itself in the case of the greatest cause of detriment in a
patient being the patient him or herself. Such a situation exacts tact from the
doctor—of an amount that more often than not is a learned response. To those
who have a desire to follow this path of the doctor, much needs to be laid out
so as to grasp the best understanding necessary for success. Individual skill
in the field of medicine has held equal, but different importance apart from
the need for rhetoric. Still, one's own abilities fall short if the doctor
cannot convince a patient to take a needed venue toward health. It is for this
reason that aptitude in physical practice must be coupled with a more broadened
scope in medicine, namely in the forms of historical knowledge and rhetoric, or
the art of persuasion. A doctor may hold the antidote or solution to a
patient's malady or injury, but it avails nothing if the patient doubts the
credibility of the one trying to help him or her. This doubt or question of
authority in a patient toward a doctor is paramount to overcome. Pure logic,
though a powerful form of persuasion, is insufficient without proper context or
explanation. Additional factual information in the form of referencing the
past, along with calculated mannerisms, displays, and speech in the form of
rhetoric, more effectively create a well-rounded and overall successful doctor.
Screening
A
dedicated study of the history of medicine is crucial to a successful life in
the medical field. Doctors are required to have a vast pool of knowledge to
pull from to help their patients recognize their symptoms, diagnose illnesses,
and ultimately cure said illnesses. These skills allow doctors to work much
more effectively through the form of preventative care, which is to cure an
illness before circumstances become dangerous, lethal, or even apparent. Of
course needing the skills to make quick decisions is important, but studying
the history of medicine and mastering preventive care can be equally important.
In many cases, preventive care can help spare countless patients a trip to the
emergency room, thus increasing a doctor's efficiency by saving more lives.
Referencing
the past and studying the properties of illnesses and their corresponding
remedies is what fuels the future in medical breakthroughs and creates great
doctors of the present. For example, recent studies have shown that the
excessive use of antibiotics, while performing their function of eliminating
bacteria very efficiently, are naturally eliminating many beneficial bacteria
in the human body as well. This in turn weakens various functions of the human
body, and makes the immune system grow lax. While the recent breakthroughs in
antibiotics have helped cure and prevent many diseases from growing too severe,
they have also caused some problems which could have been avoided by more
closely studying principles about health and disease prevention that date back
to even the ancient Roman era. The ancient Romans, while having exercise and
personal fitness as their biggest advocates for preventing diseases, lacked
much of the modern remedies that we have available in our day; however, there
are some principles to be learned from this that could have prevented many of
the issues that are arising from excessive usage of antibiotics today. Romans
focused on keeping the body's immune system strong, overcoming non-lethal
illnesses and then growing stronger and adapting. Nowadays with the debut of
widespread antibiotics, the body is overcoming illnesses that it previously
could not, but the immune system itself is growing weaker with no conquerable
bacteria in sight. Just as the body's muscles grow weak and fade away without
any exercise, the body's immune system along with various other functions wane
when not utilized properly. Studying all of the eras of human medicine and the
principles behind them have many benefits, even today in the face of modern
remedies that would have been considered miraculous back then.
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| Tell all the truth...but tell it slant? |
Present
Results
Just
like how knowing the history can help one be more prepared to go into the field
of medicine, effective communication skills can also bring many benefits to the
table. Just like how the typical white lab coat and stethoscope give off messages
of
Discuss
Solutions
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| Sometimes there is no easy way, but a doctor must do what must be done |
Doctors
need the ability to persuade their patients, but they also need to be wary of
other messages that they can give off without saying anything. Doctors need to
be the emotional anchor in times of crisis, therefore keeping calm and
maintaining composure are some necessary communication skills. Imagine if a
doctor were to panic upon hearing bad news or when things didn't go the right
way. The credibility of the doctor would go out the window, and the progress in
helping a patient overcome their illness would completely halt. Body language
and other mannerisms go hand in hand with speech in being able to convey the
thoughts of the doctor to the patients in ways that they can understand. The
calm, educated demeanor of the doctor is in itself a way for trust to be built
between the doctor and the patient. A furrowed brow is sure to raise alarm in a
patient, but excessive smiling could also bring about unease and mistrust,
though the doctor's intentions may be good. Doctors have studied medicine for a
large portion of their lives and that in itself sends a powerful message; however,
effective use of communication through things like body language allows for
that knowledge and expertise to be utilized to its full potential. Doctors and
patients need to trust each other and communicate in order to understand and
solve problems together. This relationship of trust allows for effective
communication of ideas and remedies that can save the patient's life. If the
doctor and the patient can work together through the doctor's mastery of some
key skills in communication, then the doctor can be a much more well-rounded
and successful influence in their field.
The
Verdict
There
are many factors to consider when pursuing an education and ultimately a career
in medicine, whether that be the necessary technical skills, knowledge, or
communication skills that will help one in that field to be a better doctor.
Through studying the background and history of medicine, an aspiring doctor can
draw knowledge from the people of the past to help solve the problems being
faced today. Being able to effectively communicate with patients though
mannerisms and speech, rhetoric can help patients understand their prescriptions
and their symptoms to ultimately learn how to conquer them. Although not
commonly brought up when one thinks of a doctor, history and communication are
absolutely crucial to the success of aspiring doctors and act as unsung heroes
in the war against disease.
Works
Cited
Blaser, Martin J., MD. "Modern Medicine May NotBe Doing Your Microbiome Any Favors." Interviewby Joe Raedle. NPR Books.NPR Books, 14 Apr. 2014. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. <http://www.npr.org/2014/04/14/302899093/modern-medicine-may-not-be-doing-your- microbiome-any-favors>.
Burton, Gideon. SilvaRhetorica. Brigham YoungUniversity, n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2014.
Burton, Gideon. SilvaRhetorica. Brigham YoungUniversity, n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2014.
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