Right then it’s the weekend of August 15 and I’m Christian Robicheau at the Sterling Creations desk.
Today our president Donna J. Jodhan focuses her attention on the Medical Profession in Ontario Canada.
She is very concerned and shares her feelings.
She wants to hear from you with your thoughts.
Write to her at donnajodhan@sterlingcreations.ca
Enjoy your weekend.
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Absolute Madness In the Medical Profession – shocker Or Shaker?
By Donna J. Jodhan
Let’s talk about something that shouldn’t be controversial but somehow still is: basic dignity in healthcare.
Today, we turn our attention to the Ontario Medical Association — the body representing physicians in this province. While its mandate includes advocating for doctors and shaping healthcare standards, there’s a growing question that deserves more than a passing glance: are we doing enough to ensure medical professionals are equipped to properly interact with seniors and people with disabilities?
Because right now, the answer doesn’t feel like a confident “yes.”
Consider this. A staff member asks a patient’s friend to help them get undressed. That’s not just awkward—it’s inappropriate. It shifts responsibility away from trained professionals and places it on someone who may not be prepared, comfortable, or even physically able to help. In a setting that’s supposed to feel safe and respectful, that moment alone can erode trust.
Or take another scenario: a patient asks their doctor for assistance getting to the front desk after an appointment, and the doctor doesn’t know how to help. Not unwilling—just untrained. That’s a problem. Healthcare is not only about diagnosis and treatment; it’s about care in the fullest sense of the word.
Then there’s the technician who places a hand on a patient’s back to guide them instead of offering an arm. It may seem minor, even well-intentioned, but for someone with mobility challenges or sensory sensitivities, that difference matters. There is a right way to guide someone safely and respectfully—and it should be standard knowledge, not guesswork.
None of these moments are dramatic in isolation. But together, they paint a picture: a system that excels in clinical expertise but too often overlooks human interaction where it matters most.
So the real question isn’t whether we should expect better. It’s why we haven’t already made it the norm.
Training medical professionals to engage appropriately with vulnerable populations—seniors, people with disabilities, those requiring assistance—is not an “extra.” It’s foundational. It belongs alongside anatomy, pharmacology, and diagnostics. Because what good is advanced medical knowledge if the delivery of care undermines a patient’s dignity?
This isn’t about blaming individuals. Most healthcare workers are doing their best within the limits of their training. This is about systems—curriculum, policy, and leadership. It’s about recognizing a gap and deciding whether to ignore it or fix it.
And that brings us back to the bigger question: is this a shocker or a shaker?
If it surprises you, it’s a shocker. If it motivates change, it becomes a shaker.
Let’s hope it’s the latter.
I’d like to leave you with this for your consideration.
1. Patient undressing with assistance from a friend
A vision-impaired patient is in a medical exam room accompanied by a sighted friend. When it is time to prepare for the examination, a staff assistant asks the friend to help the patient get undressed. The friend provides guidance and support, helping the patient remove clothing in a respectful and private manner so she can be ready for the exam.
2. Technician guiding a patient to the X-ray room
A technician stands behind a vision-impaired patient and gently places their hands on the patient’s back to guide them forward. Using steady, reassuring contact, the technician helps direct the patient safely toward the X-ray room, ensuring they can navigate the space with confidence and without confusion.
Image = A male doctor in a white lab coat stands at the front of a bright, modern room holding a tablet and speaking to a small group of seated medical staff in scrubs, including men and women of varied ages and ethnicities, who listen attentively in black chairs, with large frosted windows behind them diffusing soft daylight and creating a clean, clinical atmosphere.
To learn more about me as an award winning sight loss coach and advocate visit http://www.donnajodhan.com