THE SECRET OF THE CARE OF THE PATIENT
Dr. Francis Peabody was the first chief resident
at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston. He
served in World War I as a field doctor and
helped establish the first modern medical school
in China. Dr. Peabody helped found the Journal of
Clinical Investigation.
Yet, when he was only 45 years old, at the peak of his career, Dr. Peabody developed cancer. During the first six months of 1927, himself seriously ill, Dr. Peabody delivered a series of lectures about what it means to serve as a physician.
“Medicine is not a trade to be learned, but a profession to be entered,” he told his students. “The treatment of a disease may be entirely impersonal, the care of a patient must be completely personal.” In his now famous final lecture, entitled, “The Care of the Patient”, Dr. Peabody spoke these profoundly simple words: “The secret of care of the patient is in caring for the patient.”
Seven months later he was dead.
Yet, when he was only 45 years old, at the peak of his career, Dr. Peabody developed cancer. During the first six months of 1927, himself seriously ill, Dr. Peabody delivered a series of lectures about what it means to serve as a physician.
“Medicine is not a trade to be learned, but a profession to be entered,” he told his students. “The treatment of a disease may be entirely impersonal, the care of a patient must be completely personal.” In his now famous final lecture, entitled, “The Care of the Patient”, Dr. Peabody spoke these profoundly simple words: “The secret of care of the patient is in caring for the patient.”
Seven months later he was dead.
