Losing one's voice as a physician.

Area of Science:

• Medical Humanities
• Communication Studies
• Sociology of Professions

Background:

• Total laryngectomy (surgical removal of the larynx) permanently alters vocal communication.
• The impact of voice loss on professional identity, particularly for physicians, is under-researched.
• Physicians rely heavily on vocal communication for professional legitimacy and patient interaction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the autoethnographic experience of a physician returning to clinical practice after total laryngectomy.
• To examine the implications of voice loss and technological mediation on professional identity and authentic medical practice.
• To investigate compensatory strategies and their role in maintaining collaborative work and professional legitimacy.

Main Methods:

• Autoethnography: A physician's personal account of their lived experience.
• Qualitative analysis of communication methods (text-to-speech, written, embodied interaction).
• Ethnomethodological perspective to interpret emergent collaborative practices.

Main Results:

• Text-to-speech and digital tools facilitated information exchange but did not fully restore authentic medical practice.
• The absence of a natural voice led to self-alienation, especially in public speaking settings.
• Face-to-face encounters and embodied co-presence fostered tacit collaboration, creating 'our ways' of working.

Conclusions:

• Technological mediation can enable communication but may not resolve the existential and professional identity challenges post-laryngectomy.
• Vocal authority remains a significant component of professional legitimacy in medical practice.
• Embodied interaction and adaptive collaborative strategies are crucial for physicians navigating voice loss.