Dressed in his traditional monk\u2019s robe, Dr. Kerzin highlighted honesty as one of the most important parts of the doctor\/patient relationship. \u201cHonesty is the foundation of ethics,\u201d he said. \u201cSlow down, and look introspectively, ask yourself: Am I being honest?\u201d He added that the medical field can be a fast paced world, which puts pressure on physicians to speed through patient visits, or glaze over details about their condition. Dr. Kerzin advised that doctors should always take a minute to pause and evaluate how they are treating their patients. He said such self-evaluation is necessary to maintain trust with the patient.<\/p>\n
\u201cRemember the last time you went to the doctor,\u201d Dr. Kerzin asked. \u201cIf there wasn\u2019t a smile, or some compassion, you weren\u2019t satisfied.\u201d He added that it is helpful to think of how you would want your own loved ones to be treated and act accordingly.<\/p>\n
The presentation was sponsored by Jacque and Rip Gellein and heard by current and prospective medical students, Central Florida community physicians and College of Medicine faculty. As Dr. Deborah German, vice president for medical affairs and dean said as she introduced Dr. Kerzin, \u201cMany of us are physicians or physicians in training, but we\u2019re also patients. \u201cNo matter who you are, I think this topic will touch each one of us in a very different way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Kerzin also delved into the difficult situation of caring for a dying patient.\u00a0 Treating a terminal illness can often inflict a sense of failure in physicians, but he urged healthcare providers to resist that feeling. \u201cSometimes we feel like we have a mandate to cure,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have to recognize [a terminal illness] is the time when we are most needed. Do it with an open heart and it will reward your practice of medicine.\u201d He added that sometimes just sitting with the patient can be the most helpful thing to do. \u201cIf you don\u2019t know what to say, then say nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Because of his vocation as a Buddhist monk, spirituality has continually played a role in Dr. Kerzin\u2019s practice of medicine. As time goes on, he says the two worlds continue to become even more intertwined. \u201cAs a physician I was trained to treat physical problems, as a Buddhist monk, I deal with more emotional problems,\u201d he said. \u201cMore and more I realize these are not so far away. The two worlds are much more blended for me now.\u201d<\/p>\n
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