HOW CAN WE SANCTIFY OUR WORK?
Return of the
Prodigal Son. c.1662. Rembrandt van Rijn
The Hermitage.
The Hermitage.
AN EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE
FOR THE CATHOLIC DOCTOR
Adapted from a presentation by Fr. Joseph Soria, M.D.
Am I a competent doctor?
Have I learned my trade well?
Do I do a sloppy job?
Do I do all my work with the greatest perfection possible?
Does the health care I provide glorify my ego or does it glorify God? What is the truth?
Do I crave the acknowledgement of my colleagues for my diagnostic or technical skills or is the interest of the patient first?
Do I have the humility of referring patients to the right specialist every time it is appropriate or do I qualify myself as one of the best specialists even if I am not?
How do I present my opinion to my patients, to my colleagues, to those I am training?
How openly and honesty do I discuss my failures with my peers? It is very hard. Everyone makes mistakes, doctors included.
Do I use my prestige as a physician to extend my influence unduly into other areas?
Do I consider myself practically as the ultimate judge in matters of life and death or do I always keep in mind that I am simply a minister of the Lord of life and death?
Do I accept gifts from pharmaceutical companies?
When I make rounds do I spend as much time with the homeless and the alcoholic as I do with the wealthy person?
Do I dedicate as much time with the patient who has had a good outcome as I do with the person who has not clearly benefited from my treatment or has a complication?
Do I ask for a second opinion when necessary?
Do I take calls responsibly, answering even mundane calls patiently and kindly?
Do I pay equal attention to the patient who is a millionaire, major-donor to the hospital as to the indigent patient?
Do I practice temperance--not only in eating and drinking habits, not only in the respect I show my patients, but also in the way I show concern for their modesty.
FOR THE CATHOLIC DOCTOR
Adapted from a presentation by Fr. Joseph Soria, M.D.
Am I a competent doctor?
Have I learned my trade well?
Do I do a sloppy job?
Do I do all my work with the greatest perfection possible?
Does the health care I provide glorify my ego or does it glorify God? What is the truth?
Do I crave the acknowledgement of my colleagues for my diagnostic or technical skills or is the interest of the patient first?
Do I have the humility of referring patients to the right specialist every time it is appropriate or do I qualify myself as one of the best specialists even if I am not?
How do I present my opinion to my patients, to my colleagues, to those I am training?
How openly and honesty do I discuss my failures with my peers? It is very hard. Everyone makes mistakes, doctors included.
Do I use my prestige as a physician to extend my influence unduly into other areas?
Do I consider myself practically as the ultimate judge in matters of life and death or do I always keep in mind that I am simply a minister of the Lord of life and death?
Do I accept gifts from pharmaceutical companies?
When I make rounds do I spend as much time with the homeless and the alcoholic as I do with the wealthy person?
Do I dedicate as much time with the patient who has had a good outcome as I do with the person who has not clearly benefited from my treatment or has a complication?
Do I ask for a second opinion when necessary?
Do I take calls responsibly, answering even mundane calls patiently and kindly?
Do I pay equal attention to the patient who is a millionaire, major-donor to the hospital as to the indigent patient?
Do I practice temperance--not only in eating and drinking habits, not only in the respect I show my patients, but also in the way I show concern for their modesty.