Illness
When a doctor approaches a patient he must think not only of the mechanics of the physical cure, but also of aiding the person in healing his spirit. This cannot be learned in medical school, it is not in the medical textbooks, nor does it qualify as a diagnosis for insurance companies. But it is what really matters.
I remember back in 1960 attending a lecture by a visiting psychiatric dignitary, I believe it was E.J. Anthony. His subject was the children of schizophrenic mothers.
The goal of psychiatry is usually just symptom relief. While important, there is so much more to be done. Dr. Diamond has for many years been mainly concerned with addressing the anguish that underlies the symptoms – the anguish of the human condition.
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A very dedicated nurse practitioner told me of a patient whom I had once also seen. She is afflicted with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and has of course mobility difficulties. When I saw her, her Inner Flame was very low – she had read and been told so much about her diagnosis and her prognosis that she had, basically, surrendered any desire to live.
I’m thinking of the technically most skilled surgeon but also the most flawed. Time and again he would stand with his entourage at the foot of the patient’s bed and declare, “Well, you’ve got the cancer and you’re gonna die!”
In this free video, Dr. Diamond discusses how, up until recently, medicine has disregarded the value of such a crucial organ for our health and wellbeing.
Dr. Diamond discusses using the power of music, innate in us all, to help transcend traumatic experiences such as surgery.
Based on these insights, Dr. Diamond has written a remarkable book of the same title, to encourage others to view surgery as a spiritual, transcendental experience, rather than one rooted in fear and anxiety.
The cardiologist proclaimed that his most important role was to allay each patient’s fear of his heart – of being attacked by it.
I’ve long advised suffers to listen to their hearts – and give thanks.
“What’s the title of your painting?”, they ask me. Well, it’s like when I’m asked for a diagnosis. To me, the diagnosis is the sufferer’s name.