A Woman’s Place is at the Table

Even so, I have noticed a subtler variety of sexism than that which grabbed me in the operating room all those years ago. One where women are not put down per se, but the qualities typically associated as “feminine”–collaboration, processing, and reflection to name a few– are viewed as somehow inferior to those that prioritize action and intervention. As if taking the time to acknowledge uncertainty or question the current plan will detract from the “real” work of treating patients. There are certainly times in critical care when immediate and decisive action is called for, and there truly is no time for discussion. But in my experience, this is only a small fraction of the time. After the crisis has resolved, there is generally ample time to take a breath, question our approach, and solicit opinions from the team, the family, and hopefully, the patient. But we often don’t do it.

We should. These techniques bring something new and fresh to our patients. And to the medical profession as well. More than two decades of research in the relatively new field of Palliative Care demonstrates that a collaborative structure benefits not only our patients and their families, but healthcare professionals as well. Instead of the hierarchical approach to patient care typical in almost every other field of medicine, where the doctor “knows all” and decision-making is a one-way street, Palliative Care is carried out mostly by interdisciplinary teams consisting of chaplains, nurses, social workers, and doctors. In this environment, there is not just one expert calling the shots, but a collaboration of healthcare providers learning from each other as well as the patient. As a result, the care plans are more considered, more tailored to our patients’ unique needs as people. And our treatment of each other as professionals is also more humane as we recognize each other’s value, regardless of our professional background, race, or gender.