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Jeff O'Connor, MD SCMS President |
(August 2008) Way back in the mid-1970s when I was just a second year Family Practice resident, our new urology attending had us watch an “educational film” on a smoothly preformed, successful supra-pubic prostatec-tomy. The educational part I barely remember. Much to our surprise, the film ended with a series of hilarious outtakes, showing us how the procedure really went. Those I do remember (Maybe we learn more when we are laughing?). One scene in particular has stuck with me since: the assistant was constantly being an “ASSISTANT”, getting in the surgeon’s way. At one point they had dueling clamps deep in the poor patient’s pelvis. Finally the surgeon cried in exasperation: “Don’t assist me, just help me!!” The hapless assistant was all form but no function.
I studied a little architecture when I was in college. One school of design focuses on form following function. In other words, the final design is the result of the intended function of the building. Nature itself is a master of this concept. The results, both in buildings and nature, can be stunning. read more
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Establishing clear professional boundaries is an integral part of patient care. Professional boundaries help to maintain the foundation of the doctor-patient relationship – trust and respect. The Spokane County Medical Society has developed a brochure addressing this issue titled