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A rough draft poem about practicing medicine

When I first stepped foot into the hallowed halls

Of the school teaching me medicine, they quickly said to us Day One

From now until you’re licensed,

you can never ever say

“You should drink some water”

Or “get more sleep” off hand

Because –did you know– that’s medical advice now, as you’re a medical student and

YOUR WORDS CARRY WEIGHT

You have power and knowledge but you also have responsibility

Because you’re Practicing Medicine

Is that person your patient?

Have they consented to your care and do they know what it entails? Do they know what you do? Do they know why they’re there with you? Do they want your advice? Do they feel they can say no?

Have you taken a good history?

And done physical exams and labs?

For example, how are their kidneys? And what about their heart?

If they were to drink water, would it cause their organs to fail?

Or what if they have an eating disorder

And they drink it to feel full?

Have you just added to their malnourishment to the point that their heart stops?

And why do they not drink water? Why would they need you to recommend it?

Are they taking a medicine that makes them dry, that makes them thirsty but not quenched? How about one where they forget to drink? Or one that pees it out?

And do they have access to clean water? Can they get enough to drink?

What if soda is really safer because of toxic lead and benzene?

What is your medical assessment of why they need more water?

Is it chapped lips that you’re treating? Or heat stroke from exposure instead?

And when you give that treatment plan of drinking extra water

What is your follow up? What will the effects be?

Give a good PARQ conference:

Plan, Alternatives, Risks, Questions answered

For example, is tea good too? Should they be starting with IV fluids, or can chewing ice suffice?

When will they feel the difference? How much water is too much?

What are the risks of drinking water? What are the risks of not?

And if drinking water doesn’t help, what’s your plan for what comes next?

What differential diagnoses would cause this thirst to be?

Will drinking that water just disguise a deeper wrong that’s underneath?

What have you missed by saying that? What care are you delaying?

Do they need to see a specialist? Do they need some social work?

Do they need an act of Congress, to make sure the water is there?

From now until you’re licensed, and even after that, you can’t tell a person to just drink water

Or get sleep

Or try that OTC drug

Because you are Practicing Medicine and there are steps required

Unless they’re fat

Then you don’t have to practice medicine

You tell them to go away and lose weight.