7 Brutal Truths I’ve Learned (as a Doctor)
Each emergency, each life saved, and even each life lost, has taught me something really important.
Reflecting back, I thought it would be good to share a few of the lessons I’ve learned from my experiences in the hospital.
Working as a doctor has been a journey filled with so many lessons, not just about medicine but about life itself.
Every day in the hospital is a new page that presents unique challenges and insights that constantly shape me as both a professional and as a person.
1. The way you interact with people matters.
Compassion is powerful. Every interaction matters and a small act of kindness can make a big difference in a patient's life.
Not too long ago I saw an elderly patient with dementia.
She’d been struggling with delirium and hallucinations lately which left her feeling anxious and weary. Her family were in the room and they looked worried, they explained to me what happened over the past few days. They were desperate for some kind of relief for their loved one.
When I approached her bedside, I could see the fear and confusion in her eyes. She seemed so fragile, kind of lost in her own world of uncertainty.
I knelt down to her level, introduced myself, and gently took her hand. I asked her how she was feeling, hoping to get through the fog of her delirium.
Within seconds, something amazing happened. Her eyes lit up, and a spark of recognition and connection flickered. She began to chat with me and her demeanour literately transformed from anxious to animated. We talked about her symptoms, but we also shared stories and had a joke together.
Her family were watching and this was the most conversational and joyful she had been in days. As I prepared to leave, I saw tears in the eyes of her family members, especially the daughter. They expressed their gratitude which was really nice and they thanked me for what seemed like a miracle to them.
In reality, it was a simple act of human connection—a moment of empathy and kindness.
In the hospital it's easy to get caught up in the technical aspects of care. But just by taking a moment to connect with a patient can change everything. It reassures them that they are seen, valued, and not alone in their struggle.
And compassion doesn't require grand gestures. Sometimes, it’s as simple as a few kind words or just taking the time to listen. Doing these things can alleviate fear, build trust, and create a safe environment.
Every interaction we have with our patients has the potential to make a big impact on their experience and recovery. It’s important that everyone feels valued and cared for, no matter how busy or stressed I might be.
2. Hope is a double-edged sword.
Hope is a powerful force in medicine.
When I was a kid, my mum told me something:
She told me I was brought on this planet to bring hope to people.
Her words have always stayed with me, shaping my perspective and guiding my actions throughout my life.
As a child I didn't really understand the depth of what it meant but as I grew older, especially in my journey to becoming a doctor, its significance became clear. Her belief in my purpose gave me a sense of direction and responsibility from a young age.
And ever since I was a kid, I always hated seeing suffering and felt a deep desire to help those less fortunate than me it in any way I could.
That’s why hope is important - it can be the light in the darkness for patients and their families. It can give them the strength to endure treatment and help them in their fight against illness.
But as a doctor, I’ve learned that managing expectations requires a delicate balance.
It’s really important to inspire optimism, without fostering false expectations, which can obviously lead to disappointment. You need to encourage a positive outlook, while gently guiding patients and families to understand and prepare for the realities of their situation.
You need to be honest and empathetic.
And this helps you to make sure that hope remains a source of strength rather than a setup for future pain. You don’t want to inspire false hope and set someone on a path to disillusionment.
3. Life is full of surprises.
Because of this, you need to be flexible and develop the ability to adapt to unexpected situations. One thing I like about the job is the unpredictability of each day.
No two days are ever the same, and no matter how much you plan, there is always an element of surprise, so you need to have the ability to think on your feet. And being adaptable is not just a professional necessity, it’s a life skill that has shaped my approach to challenges in life.
Just as I was about to walk into the operating theatre, the senior surgeon and I reviewed the CT scan images to assess the situation. We were preparing to perform an emergency appendicectomy - it’s where you remove an appendix that’s usually inflamed, infected, or sometimes ruptured.
As we began the operation, everything was progressing smoothly.
I was manoeuvring the probes so we could visualise the appendix on the large monitor in front of us.
Then what we saw was not what we expected.
The appendix was severely inflamed and surrounded by a collection of pus. It was infected and had perforated, which complicated the situation.
This forced us to convert the operation to an open procedure, requiring a bigger incision on the right side of the abdomen. And then we had to separate the abdominal muscles to locate the appendix beneath. We tied it off with stitches, detached from the intestine, and took out. Changing the operation midway through made the process a lot longer and we were playing catch up for the rest of the day.
But, it is what it is, we had to just get on with it. You have to be adaptable and expect the unexpected.
4. Death touches every life.
It may sound obvious but, it’s true. You probably don’t think about it often, but when it’s a part of your job, it's like an uunavoidable truth.
I had a shift recently on a weekend where I got to work, said hello to some colleagues, walked to the staffroom, put my lunch in the fridge, and headed to the ward to start seeing patients.
I turned the computer on to print off a list but then a nurse came up to me and said that three patients had passed away overnight, and I needed to certify their deaths.
So, one by one, I went into each room to do this. As I approached the room of one of the patients, I saw their family in the hallway, visibly distraught and heartbroken.
Their grief was palpable.
Seeing this day to day has taught me the importance of making every day count.
Life is fragile, and time is short. So make it a meaningful one.
5. Health is wealth.
No amount of money can buy a healthy body once it’s broken. Preventive care for your body and mind is so, so important.
The way I see it is this: Your health is going to do one of two things for you.
It’s either going to enhance your life, giving you the energy you need to live life to the max, or it’s going to drag you down and impact your day to day life.
This is because your body is your vessel for this life.
I’ve seen a lot of patients who have faced significant health challenges because of the lifestyle choices they’ve made. And it’s so easy to go down that road because our lives are filled with conveniences that for the most part, promote unhealthy habits. Screen time and easy access to fast food, takeaways, processed snacks, sugary drinks, alcohol and things has made maintaining good health a real challenge.
And having spoken to patients who have found themselves in this situation, it’s not that they don’t care, it’s because the environment around them makes unhealthy choices the more convenient option.
I remember one particularly overweight person with diabetes and cardiovascular disease once told me how he wish he knew earlier about the impact these choices would have on his life.
This is why preventive care is so crucial. It involves making conscious choices to live a healthier lifestyle, which includes eating nutritious foods, staying active, and managing stress.
These steps can help prevent lots of chronic diseases and improve overall well-being. Prioritise your health. I can’t understate its importance.
6. Medicine, and life in general, is about continuous learning.
Let me explain.
There are always new things to learn — new research comes out informing us of new treatments, new techniques and new perspectives. And as a scientist, you have to approach things with an open mind.
This love for learning starts early. Ever since you were a kid, you were learning things, from your first steps to understanding how to ride a bike.
Remember the rush you got as a kid from mastering something new? That sense of accomplishment is the crux of everything we do.
Learning is embedded in humanity. It’s a fundamental part of our existence.
I honestly love learning. And if you’re not learning, where is the progression You’re at risk of stagnating.
Medicine as a field forces you to grow because you are always exposed to new challenges and situations. Learning broadens your perspectives.
It expands your worldview and it helps us to understand each other better — this is so important. You don’t have to learn a new language or an instrument to prove this point, just do what you’re doing now, read articles, learn new skills online or read a book.
The key is to stay curious and open-minded. Learning also builds meaningful connections with the people you are learning with. And if you’re learning with others, shared learning experiences can create bonds and foster a sense of community.
You can make friends and lifelong connections from exposing yourself to education. And something I’ve realised is that learning can make you feel more fulfilled because you’re progressing towards something.
This sense of progression is important for personal satisfaction and growth. Continuous learning keeps your mind sharp and your spirit engaged. So, try to embrace the journey of learning, it might enrich your life in ways you never thought it could.
7. It's a team effort.
I’ve always been someone who likes working both in a team and being alone, whether that was in sports, at school or now at work.
Teamwork is important because it improves patient outcomes and helps to reduce errors. Medicine is definitely a team effort.
Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physios - they all have important roles. And being able to collaborate with people in work and in life is so important.
Teamwork creates this kind of synergy.
When everyone brings their expertise and works together, the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts.
I remember some night shifts that were just so hectic; ;ots of new patients were being admitted and needed to be seen.
Then my bleep went off and told me that a trauma would be arriving in 5 minutes.
So, I headed to resus and as I was about to take the stairs down, I could hear the helicopter landing
When the patient arrived, the helicopter crew gave a handover of what happened to the patient. The patient was moved from the trolley bed to one of the resus beds, and then the coordinated chaos began.
Someone started to scribe and keep the time.
One doctor started assessing the patient.
A nurse started prepping IV lines and fluids.
Another nurse handed me a tray with cannula equipment and I was tasked by the lead doctor to take blood samples and at the same time get access into a vein so we could give them fluids and drugs.
An anaesthetist was standing behind the patient managing their airway.
Another doctor was on the computer requesting a CT scan.
There were so many moving parts. Everyone knew their role.
It wasn’t just about the medical skills; it was about trusting each other and working together seamlessly. In those moments, you rely on others and you need to be dependable as well.
Efficient communication is really important in those scenarios.
Teamwork is not just essential in medicine.
In life, being able to work well with others can lead to more successful and fulfilling outcomes. Whether it’s at work or in relationships, collaboration can drive success. It teaches you to listen, to communicate properly, and to value the contributions of others.
I’ve learned that you don’t have to do everything alone. In stressful situations, knowing you’re part of a team can give you confidence.
Teamwork is one of the most important skills you can develop - it will serve you well in every aspect of your life.
A quote from a great
Hope you're having a fab day,
Z
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