Smile Has No Foreign Accent

During my medical practice, I often learned something new and helpful from  my patients that I was not taught during my training.

I am particularly grateful to one of my patients  who taught me a great lesson that immediately had a positive effect on my medical practice.

Ms KC was a 52-year-old English professor in a local college who  was admitted to my service as a patient with rectal bleeding and diarrhea. Diagnostic workup revealed that she  had mild to moderate left sided ulcerative colitis. She responded to oral and rectal “mesalamine” treatment very well.

One day during my morning rounds she asked me,” doctor why  are you so stern, is my condition serious?” I responded, “not at all you are doing very well. I am planning to send you home in a day or so.” She than said, “in that case why are you so serious, for  you never smile?” This time I responded with a smile, “I was raised with a  Turkish Medical Culture,  we were told that doctors should always be very serious when dealing with patients .They should never be  a pal with the patients and never smile because  these behaviors could be perceived as a sign of loose character.” She said, “now I understand you better, but this is very wrong. I thought because you have a foreign accent, you don’t want to talk too much. On the other hand, you don’t smile either, but you are a good doctor. You should always approach your patients with a friendly smile, it gives them hope and confidence that you really care about them. Remember the saying doctor, when you smile the entire world smile with you, but when you cry you cry alone”.