Passing Stones

An older physician consults a younger colleague for medical care. Having begun his career with good intentions and hard work, the older physician has become bitter because of the constant demands. His colleague encourages him to retire for his health, with surprising consequences.

Some doctors practice too long. Some realize it but don't act while others miss the signals, as do their colleagues and friends. I learned that suggesting retirement to a colleague can be as therapeutic as writing a prescription.

Some time ago, I had such a doctor as a patient. He had sent me a few patients for consultation, so I knew who he was from our phone conversations. The patients that he sent did not present particularly difficult diagnostic problems, and I later felt that they had been his advance guard to test the waters. They had in common an intense loyalty to this doctor and spent much of their visits telling me that he was a fine man and had taken care of them for years.

His first visit required several phone conversations between our office secretaries to check, change, and double-check appointment times. Yes, we would be certain to allot enough time. Yes, it would be fine if the doctor told me himself the nature of the visit, and no, we wouldn't do any testing prior to his seeing me. Thank you very much.

That first visit was marked by much bluster and posturing. It seemed he wished to portray that he was very much in control of his own medical condition, was quite knowledgeable, and was seeing me only to confirm the obvious. Later, I was reminded for the hundredth time that things that appear obvious …