Being a Relative of a Patient

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Being a Relative of a Patient

Being a Relative of a Patient

Being a doctor, I have also been a patient’s relative many times. I can imagine, with the knowledge and experience I have, how deeply I understand the psychological aspects of patients' situations.

Being a patient’s relative is often more challenging than being the patient. Conditions and circumstances can drastically change how one experiences this role. Sometimes, as a relative, you suffer even more than the patient, because you are dealing with ongoing responsibilities, expectations, and the cruel realities of life that do not soften even in the face of illness. You are constantly questioned by family members and feel pressured to handle things, often without the support you need.

When your patient is in a critical care unit and being treated one day and neglected the next, you begin to realize that the level of care depends on the staff. Why are people who have not learned compassion and mercy allowed to work in such sensitive areas like intensive care? If you find it repulsive, just leave. Don’t work there.

The hospital corridor is a chaotic place, with countless people with different concerns. If only their worries were just about the illness itself. In some corners of the hospital, a half-conscious patient may be left unnoticed, unable to communicate, while personnel who do not understand non-verbal cues continue with their duties.

There is tension in the corridors—tension stemming from issues like the rush to meet deadlines, to finish tests and procedures before the doctor leaves for days. The rush is more than just speed; it's filled with anxiety. The administrative tasks, waiting in long lines, the disorganization—it's overwhelming. The staff is exhausted, waiting for the end of their shift, while the patients’ families are left in limbo, waiting for answers that may never come.

But the psychological strain on the patient and their family often gets overlooked. Who truly considers the mental burden the family carries while their loved one is in the intensive care unit? The health authorities may consider administrative issues, but the real challenges and suffering that the patient and their family face are often forgotten.

As a doctor, I understand the difficulties, but no doctor's struggles can compare to the pain of a patient and their family. The vulnerability, the real suffering, belongs to them. Health professionals may eventually be able to deal with the system, but the true hardship remains with the patient and their loved ones.

There's so much more I could write, but perhaps if I were a poet, I’d summarize it in two lines... If I were a poet, I’d cry too.