How to tell whether or not you'll make a good doctor

Yes, with these few questions, you can determine whether or not you will have a successful medical career! Well I suppose even by saying that, I've essentially branded myself as a quack selling a "one size fits all" approach to what is quite clearly a multifactorial outcome. However, if you have been following my blog at all, you'll realise it's full of gross generalizations- without which many of us would cease to make sense of the world.

I have what I call 'panic moments' on a relatively frequent basis. These are moments where I have to stop and think about something like how to do a manual blood pressure (the equivalent of tying your shoelaces) because we use the automatic cuffs so often. Or when I have to go back and read about what the spleen actually does. While we're on the topic, funny how it just sits there and seemingly does nothing y'know? Like the lungs breathe and the heart beats, but seriously, spleen, make yourself useful. If you can name more than 3 functions of the spleen without googling it, I promise I'll buy you a BMW. Ok no I'll probably buy you a kit kat.

So back to 'panic moments'. When I can't remember relatively simple things, I often think "Well how am I ever going to make sense of really complex things? I'll never be a good doctor" However, though I may be disillusioned at the time, I try to be objective and ask myself a couple questions:

If I was a patient, would I want to have me (or somebody just like me) as my doctor? Or for the really hard core: If I was someone else, would I recommend my mother have me as her doctor?

Caveat: These questions make a bit more sense in a system where care is primarily provided by doctors in private practice (as it is in my home country). Obviously such a system is flawed, as are all systems, but one thing it does enable is patient choice in exactly who sees them regularly and why. Such patients are, therefore, not afraid to tell their friends (and mothers) which doctors they are happy with and those they aren't.

If your honest answer to these questions is yes, then you can pick out some positive things and remind yourself you aren't a total failure. You can also identify a couple things to work on. And if your honest answer is no, then it gives you reason to do a bit of soul searching.

I'll give you my own assessment of myself: I would like me to be my doctor because I'm a good listener, people generally think I take them seriously if they have something to say, I like wrestling with difficult concepts, I don't crumble under pressure, I like talking things through with people and I get immense satisfaction out of knowing I've helped someone else. Reasons why I wouldn't like me to be my doctor: I can get a bit impatient and then be a bit brusque with others if I have a lot to do and I feel they are being too long-winded, I'm not a huge fan of children so I tend not to give them as much attention as I would an adult patient, and people- generally speaking- don't find me very approachable. It just gives a bit of context when you get caught up in the emotion of the moment.

Hope that helps some lost soul out there. Remember you aren't a failure because you've made a mistake! I think that's something we don't hear often enough.