What is like to be a devoted doctor? An analysis of book reports on The Painted Veil.
- Author:
Kun HWANG
1
;
Hun KIM
;
Ae Yang KIM
;
Se Won HWANG
;
Se Ho HWANG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Books; Writing; Medical students; Physicians; Humans
- MeSH: Adult; Attitude; *Attitude of Health Personnel; Disease Outbreaks; Education, Medical, Undergraduate; Famous Persons; Female; Happiness; Humans; Literature, Modern; Male; *Marriage; *Medicine in Literature; *Physicians; *Social Responsibility; Social Values; *Spouses; *Students, Medical
- From:Korean Journal of Medical Education 2016;28(1):103-109
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to see what medical students think about the role of spouse of a devoted medical doctor through the book reports of The Painted Veil (1925). METHODS: The 53 medical students were asked to read Maugham's The Painted Veil and to have a discussion. In their book reports, following questions were asked to be included: What it is like to be married a devoted medical doctor? Do you think that patients realize, value, and respect the importance of doctor's work? In the outbreak of highly infectious and fatal disease, can you carry out a heroic fight to control it? RESULTS: Among the 53 respondents, seven students (13%) answered that they would be happy if they marry a devoted doctor and scientist and 34 (64%) unhappy. The remaining 12 (23%) could not make a decision. The six students (11%) answered that doctor is valued and respected by patients while 46 (87%) answered doctor is neither valued nor respected. The remaining one (2%) could not decide. The 20 students (38%) answered that they would fight for the infectious disease and the remaining 30 (57%) answered that they would not. The remaining three (5%) could not determine their mind. CONCLUSION: The Painted Veil induced a virtue of "life of balance and harmony" and "attitude of doctor who give superiority to responsibility and duty over prestige and wealth" from the medical students. It could be a good teaching material for medical humanity.
