The doctor-story is a distinctive form of literature exemplified by three tales: "The Use of Force" by William Carlos Williams, "The Steel Windpipe" by Mikhail Bulgakov, and "Brute" by Richard Selzer. These short stories are especially illustrative of the various forces that strain the physician-patient relationship and threaten trust. Grumpy doctors and difficult patients have common origins. Fatigue, frustration, and fear are frequent causes of disgruntlement and bad behavior. Healing can be transformative for both the doctor and the patient. These three stories offer lessons about the power of physicians, the vulnerability of patients, and the need for balancing the two.
Read the entire essay, "Grumpy Doctors and the Short Story," in Hektoen International: A Journal of Healthcare, Humanities, and Medical History (Volume 3, April 2009).
www. hektoen.org/Journal_Grumpy_Doctors.html
