Backstory

When I was an intern, I asked a senior resident for advice regarding a particular patient who was having some postoperative complications. I gave the resident the relevant information regarding the patient, my assessment, and potential plans of action. I asked him for his recommendations, and his answer was simple: “Do the right thing.” These words have always stayed with me. Those four words convey so much. There is a “right thing” that we can do in any given situation. There is a moral compass that can direct us to do the right thing. There is a positive impact we can have on others and on society when we choose to do the right thing. There is so much self-satisfaction and fulfillment we can obtain by doing the right thing. After years of learning from my patients and from recognizing how my experiences in medicine can be extrapolated to life in general, I believe we are all capable of, perhaps even obligated to, and most importantly benefitted by doing the right thing.