All doctors look the same, dressed in white gowns with some medical instrument in hand. However, we all know how tremendous the disparity of ability and credibility can be. In movies or novels, the doctor figures are almost always portrayed in two drastically different ways: they can either play the good guy, helping to fight for justice, or they can act the part of the bad guy, abusing their knowledge for petty gains. Although the types of doctors are much more diverse in real life, it is undeniable that white-gowned doctors aren’t all the respectable types we hope to see treating us. As students of Korean Medicine, it is essential for us to reflect on what makes a doctor ‘respectable’.

One of the most important qualities of a highly-esteemed doctor is kindness. Even though a doctor examines numerous patients each day, every patient deserves the utmost attention of the doctor. To the patient, it doesn’t matter how many sick patients passed through the doctor’s office that day; to them, their ailment is more important than anyone else’s. They need the doctor to listen carefully to their conditions and treat them with the greatest kindness. Doctors need to regard each patient like their first, never hesitating to elucidate any questions about the illness or treatment. With their appointment books always crammed, it is sometimes hard for doctors to maintain their kindliness for all patients, especially for some who are very trying. However, practitioners of medicine should always remember that patients come because they are unwell, and if kindliness helps them get better, doctors should not spare any of it.

Making the patients healthy is the most fundamental goal of a doctor. However, it is easy to focus on the external sickness and overlook the internal discomfort of a patient. Even though a patient may not show clear signs of a specific disease, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the person is healthy. It is crucial for doctors, especially Korean Medicine doctors, to take a holistic view and try to heal both the body and the mind. A troubled mind can induce physical pain, and a sick body can cause mental stress. For example, an unceasing migraine may be the result of clogged blood in the brain, but it may also be the effect of a nagging wife and insolent children. Thus, it is important for doctors to diagnose the factors correctly and try to find remedies for them, even outside the medical field.

In order to make a medical practitioner a ‘true’ doctor, the practitioners need to form the right kind of outlook on their profession. Today, especially in our society, it is considered a great privilege to work in the medical profession. Being a doctor usually guarantees a certain amount of wealth and social status, and this is why so many students aspire to go to medical school. However, it is critical to understand that the responsibilities of a doctor outweigh the prestige by far. The vocation of a doctor is not enjoying the many advantages of high class life; being a doctor is about being able to be of service to society, although it may require a certain amount of self sacrifice. If a patient suddenly takes a bad turn and needs assistance immediately, it is only natural that the doctor should give up a long-sought weekend family trip to be with the patient. How seriously and earnestly a doctor feels about his calling is probably the most important attribute of a ‘true’ doctor.

Everyone wants to be treated by a kind doctor who tries to cure the person as a whole, and regard his/her profession as a calling. However, for a doctor, this is much easier said than done. The day’s work can be grueling and arduous, and it is hard to maintain such high, noble spirits as time goes on. Nonetheless, a doctor must not forgo these qualities because without them, he/she will cease to be a ‘doctor’. Therefore, it is of ultimate importance that soon-to-be doctors like ourselves contemplate long and hard about the characteristics of a respectable doctor and form firm values that will lead us to the right path throughout our career.