Pleurisy and pulmonary embolism: physician sees through patient eyes

Abstract

As a respiratory physician personally affected by pulmonary thromboembolism, I bring a unique perspective to managing this condition. It has made me realise that sometimes we do not see in detail the ways our colleagues practise, even working alongside them, although general management principles are the same. While banned from work, but permitted 'as much paperwork as I like' (the sole compromise that would ensure this patient's adherence), I sought to learn from my time as patient, hoping that other clinicians might gain from my experience in both roles. When it came to deciding which insights would be most useful to impart for the benefit of our patients, the leading concepts were not novel but important to emphasise in our current medical world, which prioritises both efficiency and quality of patient care.