On Christian Doctoring

On Christian Doctoring

What do you think of when you imagine a "Christian doctor"? Do you visualize a condemning pro-life activist? Do you think of someone withholding birth control from teenagers in an attempt to prevent promiscuity? Maybe you visualize a medical missionary in a third-world country. Well, I am none of the above but I am a Christian doctor. It has taken me a long time to understand what it means to be a Christian doctor. Since medical school, I have been a part of Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA), New York Medical College Christian Fellowship (NYMCCF), New Hope Fellowship Church (NHF), Morning Star New York Church (MSNY), First Baptist Church of San Francisco (FBCSF), City Presbyterian Church (CPC), Central Peninsula Church (another CPC), and Many Other Christian and Medical Groups With Short and Long Names and Abbreviations (MOCMGWSLNA). While these groups attempted to define "Christian doctor," I still had the same basic question:

If a non-Christian doctor can embrace Christian virtues e.g. love, compassion, patience, etc., what sets a Christian doctor apart?

I met a nice Christian man named Greg several years ago. I got to know him more recently as I became involved in his medical care. He has a terminal illness. While those surrounding him were saddened by the diagnosis, Greg seems to be in happy spirits. He is very knowledgeable of his advanced disease, but chose not to let that interfere with his daily life. He was still speaking at church, taking his son to the beach, and asking me out to lunch. As a doctor, it is always hard to have the end-of-life discussion with a patient. (Sometimes, I think it is more uncomfortable for the doctor than for the patient.) However, when I spoke to Greg about his wishes, it was very easy: he was certain that it was God's will for him to return to India. Other doctors, Greg himself, and I all had concerns about his physical state for traveling. However, Greg was able to see God's big picture for him beyond his illness. Soon, I began seeing it too. I no longer worried about this lab abnormality and that lab abnormality in his chart, and saw God's grand promise to bring him back to India. I am certain that God follows through with His promises once He makes them.

Perhaps what sets a Christian doctor apart is the ability to have faith in God to carry out His promises for patients even when the medical data point differently.

Greg did make it back to India before passing away last week.

Love and prayers to your family, Greg. Thank you for teaching me what it means to be a Christian doctor.