While health care debates rage around me, I return to a deeper truth from ancient physicians. Writing at least 2,500 years ago in the fundamental Chinese medical text, The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine, from the chapter, “The Art of Medicine”:

Huang Di asked, “ Why is it that after using all these treatment modalities, the body is still weak, the qi and blood are still deficient, and the patient does not recover?”

Qi Bo answered,”To completely heal a person, acupuncture, herbs, and these other modalities are only one aspect of the treatment. You must also come into synchrony with the patient in many other ways. For example, when patients lack the confidence to conquer illness, they allow their spirits to scatter and wither away. They let their emotions take control of their lives. They spend their days drowned in desires and worries, exhausting their jing/essence and qi and shen/spirit...

A good healer cannot depend on skill alone. He[She] must also have the correct attitude, sincerity, compassion and a sense of responsibility. The patient must also be aware of his or her body in order to recognize signs and symptoms and imbalances. The patient can then seek remedies at the earliest possible moment. When the doctor and patient are in a a state of harmony, the illness will not linger or become terminal.”

Regardless of our medical specialty, these timeless words of wisdom apply to all of us who consider ourselves doctors, healers, therapists, health care practitioners.