Neurosurgeons as Healers

TL;DRAbstract

“If a doctor's life may not be a divine vocation, then no life is a vocation and nothing is divine.”—Harvey Cushing “Curing means eliminating all evidence of disease, while healing means becoming whole.”—Lissa Rankin, MD The ultimate purpose of the medical sciences is to assist in the healing and recovery of patients from disease. Within this statement, the roles of the different entities involved in this complex relationship are defined. The patient and his or her disease are at the center of the construct. The physician at the periphery acts as guide to the process. By looking at medical history, neurosurgeons must find a balance between acting as curer and healer to survive and thrive in today's medical society. Separate, but not separable, a patient and his disease are more than just the sum of his or her healthy self with the added symptoms of disease. Illness and its impact on daily functioning and quality of life stretch far beyond a simple overlay of symptoms. At the same time,

Chat with Paper

AI Agents for this Paper