One thing about clinical attachments, not only you deal with patient's disease, you will get some insights from the patient's life. I met a man with Parkinson disease in the Neurology clinic who came for a scheduled follow-up. As he is compliant with his medications, his symptoms are better; only slight fine tremors and barely slow movements, the way he walks is almost normal. He can manage his house chores, an Imam in a mosque, and he is working. At the end of the consult, the specialist asked him whether he has any depression. His answer was only when he was thinking of his child. Then, he opened up about his wife who had left him 7 years ago. She changed her address and phone number, and took off with their only child. The thing that made me almost teared-up was that she left him due to his illness. She told him that his absence in her life doesn't make any difference. Not only that, she doesn't even allow their son to spend time with him, so it has been 7 years since he last saw his son. I always thought marriage is about upholding your vows; to be with each other in sickness and in health. Therefore, it is heartbreaking to know there are some spouses who cannot deal with this kind of hardship and take the easy way out; divorce the terminally-ill. Yes, maybe I don't understand the stress and obstacles of caring for the sick, but isn't love is the best reason not to give up?
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