Confessions of a British Doctor. Benjamin Daniels

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      Who am I?

      Humans have a universal desire to be listened to and share their stories of pain and suffering. My job as a doctor is to listen to those stories. Sometimes I interject with some suggestions or medications, but more often I am simply a passive observer of the soap operas that are people’s lives. With regular appointments, I watch the characters develop and the narratives unfold. Although some of my patients have an over inflated view of my significance, I really am just a walk-on part in their lives. I’m like an extra in a soap opera who tries his best to play a small role in one or two of the storylines, but in reality rarely affects the progress of the plot or the big ending. The advantage I do have is that I get to watch the story unfold from a unique and fascinating angle. Being a doctor gives me a privileged insight into the more private and often bizarre aspects of human life and, with that in mind, let me share some slices of my working life with you.

      I love my job and have no regrets about choosing to become a doctor and then specialize as a primary care physician. This is quite fortunate really, as my decision to study medicine was made as I chose my school exam subjects at the tender age of 16¼. At this time my only real reservation against becoming a doctor was the knowledge that I would have to endure studying chemistry. I couldn’t really think of any other reason why I shouldn’t be a doctor. What could be better than swanning around a hospital full of beautiful nurses and ‘saving lives’? People would think I was great and ultimately this would lead to me finally getting a girlfriend. As an awkward 16-year-old with bad skin and greasy hair, most of my career aspirations were based on what profession would give me the best opportunity of gaining me some interest from the opposite sex. I had accepted that my carnal ambitions would ideally be achieved by being in a boy band or playing Premiership football, but unfortunately my lack of talent in both these departments led to the inevitable choice of medicine. I chose a career in medicine in the year that ER first arrived on our screens. A poster of George Clooney in a white coat was on every girl’s wall. Of course I wanted to be a doctor!

      On my university application form, I had the good sense to not write that I wanted to be a doctor so I could ‘save СКАЧАТЬ