“We all die twice. Once when our bodies give out. And again, when our stories stop being told.” This quote is attributed to the fictional character Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard, the NCIS forensic pathologist played by the late beloved actor David McCallum.
However, nowhere in the Hippocratic Oath does it say physicians have a duty to propagate the memories of their patients. Quite the opposite, it instructs doctors to maintain their confidentiality.
It is incumbent on us, as physicians, to break that bind – ethically, of course – and capture the essence of legacy, i.e., how our patients live on through the stories we share about them.
Your brand is already speaking. The question is whether it’s saying what you want it to say. Join this free 5-day email journey to learn the key concepts behind building a clearer, stronger professional brand.
The role of “storykeeper” is practically unacknowledged in medical training, but is vital to preserving the human side of health care. Stories sustain the memories of patients long after their physical presence is gone. The entire ethos of narrative medicine implores us to honor and cherish our patients’ stories, ensuring they are not lost in the shuffle of medical charts and diagnoses.
When I ask physicians, “Why aren’t you writing about your patients and clinical experiences?” the most common answer is: “I don’t know how to get a story onto the page.”
One approach that has consistently worked for me is to examine the role of stories in healing, reflecting on how they sustain the memory of patients after they have passed on, whether in the literal sense or after they have left my practice.
Narrative medicine, in particular, provides a framework for paying tribute to our patients and preserving their memories by preserving their stories, those told to us in the exam room, at the hospital bedside, before a procedure, and in other medical settings.
Medicine has more doors than most physicians are shown. This SoMeDocs virtual resource brings expert-led lectures on becoming a media expert, life insurance medicine, not-for-profit health care plans, and other career paths worth knowing.
![Non-Clinical Conference: A Beginner's Guide [CONFERENCE]](https://doctorsonsocialmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_2306-1-1024x1024.jpg)
Writing about individuals whose stories are (or were) important to them may also have an impact on us, perhaps altering our lives, practice, or career. Paying it forward illustrates how patients’ narratives can continue to resonate, shaping the ways we think about treatment and the doctor-patient relationship.
Such reflections might naturally lead to a broader conversation about the importance of deep, active listening in the medical profession, as well as ways in which stories about doctors, themselves, might endure, influencing others through their words, actions, or teachings.
The dual role of narrative medicine as both a therapeutic tool and a means of immortality is compelling. By telling and retelling stories, we create a web of shared experiences that connects generations of patients and providers.
This collective narrative preserves not only individual lives but also the kindness of compassionate care. These themes are deeply interconnected and offer countless possibilities for crafting a reflective, impactful narrative.
Paying it forward illustrates how patients’ narratives can continue to resonate, shaping the ways we think about treatment and the doctor-patient relationship.
As a starting point for writing, I suggest you think about stories as a way of delineating a person’s essence.
From there, reflect on how physicians uniquely occupy a position of unmatched intimacy as witnesses to life-changing moments in patients’ lives. This perspective grants doctors a singular ability – and responsibility – to act as custodians of their patients’ stories.
You will find that everyday medical encounters readily lend themselves to narrative writing and can bring depth to your composition. Personal anecdotes or vignettes will illustrate moments when telling a patient’s story can make a lasting impact on others. Narrative medicine provides a natural framework for creative nonfiction, translating patient care into a story of empathy and understanding.
SoMeDocs is pleased to announce a virtual conference focusing on writing as a healthcare professional. Topics range from Book Publishing — Getting Started, to Writing Fiction: The Secret Sauce that Keeps Readers Turning Your Pages, and more.
The main challenge, as I mentioned, is balancing respect for patient confidentiality with the need to share narratives that teach and inspire. A physician’s oath to the profession, coupled with HIPAA regulations, can stymie good writing.
As a psychiatrist, I have had to be extra careful about how much and what type of information to disclose, necessitating biographical, geographical, and other changes to the narrative to prevent identification of the patient, whether living or not.
If you want to share a story about a patient, it’s always best to obtain their permission or the permission of loved ones (if the patient is deceased) while also disguising or omitting elements that could reveal their identity.
A physician’s oath to the profession, coupled with HIPAA regulations, can stymie good writing.
Here is how a colleague handled this delicate situation. He wrote:
“I wanted to honor a local teenager in my town who sadly took his life several years ago. I coached this kid in soccer and knew his family pretty well. Before I submitted my tribute for publication, I asked their permission and asked them to read it, fearing I might upset them. They thanked me for addressing the topic [of suicide] and for honoring their son. And they gave me a ‘definite yes’ when I asked their permission to submit it [for publication].”
The emotional weight of holding sad (or triumphant) stories can be enormous. Maya Angelou famously said: “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you,” referencing her own experiences of trauma and silencing during her childhood in the segregated south, where she endured a traumatic sexual assault that left her speechless for a period of time.
Sharing and preserving patient stories ensures that their lives – and your involvement in their care – will continue to reverberate, shaping the culture of medicine and the broader human experience. The ripple effect can extend well beyond any one individual encounter.
You look like someone worth following on LinkedIn. This free 5-day resource helps you strengthen your profile, move past posting anxiety, and start connecting with the people who belong in your professional orbit.
As a denouement to this essay, it is only fitting that I reveal the spark for writing it, to let you know stories can originate virtually anywhere and at any time. While I was watching an episode of NCIS (“The Stories We Leave Behind”), I was moved by the closing dialogue between “Jimmy” (Dr. Palmer, played by Brian Dietzen) and “Tony” (Michael Weatherly, in a reprise role) as they were preparing to attend “Ducky’s” funeral.
Jimmy: “I’m really glad you’re here, Tony.”
Tony: “Wouldn’t miss it [Ducky’s funeral] for the world.”
Jimmy: “Been telling stories all week about Dr. Mallard. You know. The whole team. A lot of stories. I guess that’s…that’s all we have in the end, right? Is just… just the stories we leave behind.”
Tony: “Hmm. I wouldn’t say only that, Jimbo. We also have the lives we touch while we are here. The people we leave behind.”
Private practice has its secrets, and SoMeDocs is gathering the experts willing to teach them: finances, billing traps, legal landmines, marketing strategy, and the decisions physicians rarely learn in training.
My message to you is: Touch – and be touched by – your patients.
Be their storykeeper.
Keep your patients alive by sharing their stories.
Put their stories – and your stories – onto paper, as often as possible.
Do not leave your patients behind.
Sustain them in your narratives.
Honor their lives and ensure that their voices, lessons, and journeys will continue to serve as a benefit and a blessing.
