The patient in poetry: an exercise in clinical problem solving

Area of Science:

• Medical Humanities
• Literature and Medicine
• Diagnostic Reasoning

Background:

• Physicians encounter complex patient information during initial encounters.
• Analyzing literary works can mirror the diagnostic process physicians use.
• The intersection of medicine and literature offers unique insights into clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the poem "To An Old Jaundiced Woman" by William Carlos Williams.
• To analyze the poem through the framework of medical diagnostic challenges.
• To compare the diagnostic interpretations of medical students and a practicing physician.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of a literary text (poem).
• Exploration of diagnostic reasoning applied to literary interpretation.
• Comparative analysis of responses from fourth-year medical students and a family physician.

Main Results:

• The poem presents a diagnostic puzzle akin to clinical practice.
• Medical students and a practicing physician offered varied interpretations.
• The exercise highlights the subjective and analytical aspects of diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• Literary analysis can serve as a valuable tool for medical education.
• The poem "To An Old Jaundiced Woman" offers a unique case study in diagnostic interpretation.
• Engaging with literature can enhance physicians' diagnostic skills and empathy.