patient stories

i have realised that what i enjoy in clinical practice is the stories of people's lives i meet. that only comes through continuity of care. that is why general practice, oncology and obstetrics appeal to me so much. and that is why surgery, although technically exciting, leave me with a bad taste in my mouth. in general practice, well, in the old days, anyway, your patient's lives become a story that you know. now, with people moving about all the time, this seems to be fading. in oncology, especially in the terminal cases, you can be with them till the end. and as long as you can deal with people dying and futility of your actions, and as long as you enjoy working in a team - you will be okay. in obstetrics - well, that's a no brainer. you follow the patient for about 10 months, and watch their baby grow. and then, sometimes, they have another baby. or five. ahh... the satisfaction of finishing a good book. damn i love a good story. i could never be a vet - i'm scared of animals. jobs dedicated to the creation and accumulation of wealth, ugh! but if i couldn't be a doctor, i think i'd love to be a historian, or a biographer, or a jounalist.