An interesting point on the doc being “emotionally distanced.” All in all, I think I prefer a doctor to be as emotionally distanced as possible. My own thought is that this keeps him objective. My wife’s last oncologist actually wept at his inability to help her despite his trying everything recommended and some ideas of his own. Making unexpected house calls, pulling strings inside the hospital, and generally trying everything in his power. He didn’t do it in front of her but it had a fairly horrible effect on me. I started giving up about that time. In fairness, I have to say that he and his wife were close friends of us both but in retrospect I think that might not have been best for any of us. (Just part of being in Saudi. Good medical care is very much a matter of checking into doctors before you visit them.)
On a different topic, is there no way to objectively measure pain? After all, my “5” might be your “3”, or “8”. Surely there is some method of measuring pain receptor stimulation. I was thinking of some kind of EEG-type device but maybe these are insufficiently selective. Just curious.
Regards
Testy