When I ask a patient if they have any questions, sometimes they take this as a license to ask me whatever personal questions they'd like to know about me. The two favorites are how old am I and where am I from.

 

Yesterday, a patient came up with a new one: "What made you become a doctor?"

 

I haven't been asked that question in a long time. I quickly stammered my medical school interview answer. "There are so few fields where you can really help somebody…"

 

The patient seemed pleased with that answer. And even though I felt silly saying it, there is a grain of truth in that. I do like helping people.

 

But what's the other real reason?

 

1) my father, who is a doctor, pushed me into it

 

2) I wanted a career where there would be a stable, good, steady income

 

3) there was no other career path that I was particularly drawn to

 

How about you? Why did you decide to go into medicine?

 

. doccartoonblogspot