While observing physicians in both clinical and hospital settings, I was given the opportunity to witness the challenges physicians faced while providing patient care. While shadowing, in some cases, I was able to see patients all the way through their treatment, from their initial visit, to their surgery, and finally their post-op check up. In most cases, patients were satisfied with their surgery and were not negatively impacted by the treatment. Unfortunately, this was not always the case. One case in particular, a patient whom I observed in both pre-op and post-op, was forced to receive a mid-leg amputation. The patient, who had been receiving treatment for his diabetic nerve damage, had reached the point where his leg began to decay and risked further damage.…show more content… This was the first exposure I had in which classical treatments were no longer an option and the patient was faced with a decision that had no desirable outcome. Although I cannot begin to imagine the decision that the patient faced, the experience continues to influence my interpretation of the practice of medicine. Through my observations of the patient, I have come to believe that as a physician there will be a time where I am faced with these challenges, and having the strength to help patients through these decisions will be the most challenging aspect of being a physician. I have learned that the best decision is not always going to provide patients with the most desirable outcome. Instead, it is the outcome that will provide patients with the greatest longevity and the best quality of healthcare. Through this understanding, I will be able to help support my patients through the challenging decisions they are faced
