Page 28 - Humanism 2018
P. 28
Helen
By Raquel Padilla Moore, MPH, CMA, Medical Assistant, COMP-Northwest
Do you know the feeling when you are meeting someone friend, I might dress up or bring a bottle of wine to
for a first date? Maybe it is a romantic date, but it does share. In the traditional sense, Helen was neither my
not have to be. Maybe it is the first time that you are patient nor my friend. However, in my mind and heart,
going to study with someone you met in class, or maybe she felt like both, so I searched for a way to offer her my
you are going to yoga with a new coworker. Perhaps you best. My “bottle of wine” for Helen was having
feel some anticipation or excitement, or even a little researched the area of the body that I would explore the
nervousness. There is something unique about the way next time I saw her. I would review my textbook, study
all these feelings converge when you are going to embark the iPad software, and watch videos of these surgical
on a journey with another human being for the very first explorations. Soon these preparations began to create a
time. I don’t know that we have the perfect word to routine environment in the lab. Everyone in the room
describe that feeling in the English language. As I walked knew what they would be working on next and had an
to class on that August afternoon, I considered these idea regarding their approach and technique. I worked
feelings and pondered what word might describe this with Helen, learned from her, and to my surprise there
best. These thoughts lingered as I donned my lab coat were moments where our team became so comfortable
and gloves. with her that we would casually chat and even laugh
while we worked with her.
As I looked at her face and studied her features, it
occurred to me that there were a few “first-date jitters” However, not all interactions with Helen were alleviated
that I should not worry about. I already knew that our with preparation or allowed for casual conversation.
personalities matched, mine and Helen’s. I knew that I Several weeks into our learning experience, it was time
would not have to be self-conscious about my laugh, to remove her external genitalia. I had conducted my
which can sometimes be too loud for standard social research, and I brought with me some past gynecologic
settings. I also knew that she would not be rude or clinical experience. In this way, I thought I was bringing
unkind to me. However, that latter point was a double- a fine bottle of wine that day. I thought I was ready. I
edged sword. Now that she did not have the capacity to was wrong. Removing the drape that had allowed her
concern herself with morals and ethics, all those points privacy for the past several weeks reminded me that I
would fall on me. I worried about doing her justice. I was approaching the most intimate region of her body,
was part of a very intimate group of people to whom and that she deserved the same level of respect that a
she was giving her final experience on earth. I was living person would receive when they obtain this type of
conscious of the fact that after her experience at our professional attention.
university, she would return to her family in her final
form: ashes. These points came together to form a sense My mind searched for the most responsible fashion to
of wanting to responsibly execute the most meaningful address this moment. I thought about the definition of
experience for Helen. consent — not legally, when a patient signs a piece of
paper so that you can protect yourself in a potentially
My personal attempt to optimize this experience meant litigious situation, but rather consent from an ethical and
that I would be as prepared as possible for our meetings. moral perspective. I considered the ways I could achieve
As a medical assistant, when I prepare for a patient this type of permission from Helen. In clinic, we start a
encounter, I ensure that we have all of our tools procedure by explaining to the patient all of the steps
available. I strive to provide comfort for the patient. On that the clinical team will be taking. I might say, “I am
the other hand, when I prepare for an encounter with a here to help the doctor, and support you through this
26 HUMANISM IN THE HEALTH SCIENCES 2018 • VOL. 21
By Raquel Padilla Moore, MPH, CMA, Medical Assistant, COMP-Northwest
Do you know the feeling when you are meeting someone friend, I might dress up or bring a bottle of wine to
for a first date? Maybe it is a romantic date, but it does share. In the traditional sense, Helen was neither my
not have to be. Maybe it is the first time that you are patient nor my friend. However, in my mind and heart,
going to study with someone you met in class, or maybe she felt like both, so I searched for a way to offer her my
you are going to yoga with a new coworker. Perhaps you best. My “bottle of wine” for Helen was having
feel some anticipation or excitement, or even a little researched the area of the body that I would explore the
nervousness. There is something unique about the way next time I saw her. I would review my textbook, study
all these feelings converge when you are going to embark the iPad software, and watch videos of these surgical
on a journey with another human being for the very first explorations. Soon these preparations began to create a
time. I don’t know that we have the perfect word to routine environment in the lab. Everyone in the room
describe that feeling in the English language. As I walked knew what they would be working on next and had an
to class on that August afternoon, I considered these idea regarding their approach and technique. I worked
feelings and pondered what word might describe this with Helen, learned from her, and to my surprise there
best. These thoughts lingered as I donned my lab coat were moments where our team became so comfortable
and gloves. with her that we would casually chat and even laugh
while we worked with her.
As I looked at her face and studied her features, it
occurred to me that there were a few “first-date jitters” However, not all interactions with Helen were alleviated
that I should not worry about. I already knew that our with preparation or allowed for casual conversation.
personalities matched, mine and Helen’s. I knew that I Several weeks into our learning experience, it was time
would not have to be self-conscious about my laugh, to remove her external genitalia. I had conducted my
which can sometimes be too loud for standard social research, and I brought with me some past gynecologic
settings. I also knew that she would not be rude or clinical experience. In this way, I thought I was bringing
unkind to me. However, that latter point was a double- a fine bottle of wine that day. I thought I was ready. I
edged sword. Now that she did not have the capacity to was wrong. Removing the drape that had allowed her
concern herself with morals and ethics, all those points privacy for the past several weeks reminded me that I
would fall on me. I worried about doing her justice. I was approaching the most intimate region of her body,
was part of a very intimate group of people to whom and that she deserved the same level of respect that a
she was giving her final experience on earth. I was living person would receive when they obtain this type of
conscious of the fact that after her experience at our professional attention.
university, she would return to her family in her final
form: ashes. These points came together to form a sense My mind searched for the most responsible fashion to
of wanting to responsibly execute the most meaningful address this moment. I thought about the definition of
experience for Helen. consent — not legally, when a patient signs a piece of
paper so that you can protect yourself in a potentially
My personal attempt to optimize this experience meant litigious situation, but rather consent from an ethical and
that I would be as prepared as possible for our meetings. moral perspective. I considered the ways I could achieve
As a medical assistant, when I prepare for a patient this type of permission from Helen. In clinic, we start a
encounter, I ensure that we have all of our tools procedure by explaining to the patient all of the steps
available. I strive to provide comfort for the patient. On that the clinical team will be taking. I might say, “I am
the other hand, when I prepare for an encounter with a here to help the doctor, and support you through this
26 HUMANISM IN THE HEALTH SCIENCES 2018 • VOL. 21
