My experience as a patient

I'm writing today's column inspired by being angry at my latest physician visit.

This morning, I had an MRI. I knew that I would be in a small tube and that claustrophobia could be a concern.

What I didn't know was that I would have to listen to extremely loud noise for 30 minutes. The technician asked if I had any questions before starting the procedure. I thought I knew what was going to happen. Asking, "Will it sound like I will be listening to jackhammers the entire time?" didn't occur to me. Go figure.

It would have taken an extra 45 seconds to explain what was going to happen. I did a lot of deep breathing and visualization and got through it, but it was unnecessarily stressful because I wasn't given even basic information.

I am a researcher. I have been conducting research for most of 30 years. I have a lot of respect for the research on which Western Medicine is built. I understand how a good investigation is conducted. And I get frustrated when people just dismiss Western approaches because they don't understand research, and embrace Eastern because what sometimes sounds like "magic" is easier to comprehend.

Up until this accident, I have probably given lip service to seeing the need for a balance between Eastern and Western Medicine. But I didn't really "get" it. I do now. Western Medicine, as it is PRACTICED, can be very alienating. I don't mean my experience with individual practitioners; there are some whose intelligence and compassion have been exemplary. But the field as a whole has a lot to learn from its counterparts.

I think if Eastern Medicine were practiced with the often same lack of regard for the individual, interest in it would decline exponentially. There has to be a better way to do this.

--K--