Today, it was the symphonies of Mozart that laced every corner of the hospital. Perfectly methodical in nature, they symbolize a harmony every physician wishes to attain. A distinctive harmony that lies between life and death, between sickness and health, and between doctors and patients. Mozart was one such genius who made us believe that in chaos there is order, in the midst of complexity lies simplicity. In a way, his music symbolized the same battle medicine faces every day: how to create some sense of control when the key of the symphony is suddenly changed…and one has to do whatever it takes to get back to harmony.
Doctors, in essence, are like the grand orchestrators. Their orchestra is comprised of their patients: different people, each with a unique instrument. It is, in the end, the conductor’s duty to ensure that the musician is directed down a path to optimal performance. The conductor needs to have a scrupulous understanding of both the musician and the instrument. An understanding so deep, the conductor is able to simplify even the hardest overture for the musician. When the musician has doubt, the conductor is there to encourage; when the musician falters, the conductor is there to guide the musician back on track. Ultimately, it is this balance, this harmony between the musician and the conductor, which produces beautiful music. Music, which in itself is life, made out of sheer metal, wood and strings.
In the hustle and bustle of medicine today, we easily forget that like nature, the relationship between a doctor and patient also relies heavily on balance. If the doctor doesn’t allow the patient input in his/her own care, the patient not only becomes defensive in following directions, but also becomes unreceptive to new suggestions that could lead to betterment of health. Sure, patients are not experts in the field of medicine, but what we are quick to forget is that they are experts of their own bodies. What their bodies tell them sometimes, is often far more valuable than any diagnostic test might ever reveal. If these two experts learned to acknowledge each other’s strengths, the music they could produce together would surpass even Mozart’s highest expectations.
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