In Tracy Kidder’s Mountains Beyond Mountains, Dr. Paul Farmer appears as a selfless, heroic doctor. He is incredibly successful, both monetarily and medically, but his sole concern is helping patients. The way he interacts with patients, and this system of communication that he teaches to his colleagues, is a unique aspect of his practice. The narrator picks up on this when Dr. Farmer almost seems to “fold” around patients (Kidder, 2009, p. 12). He does not treat them like they need to be quarantine, but instead as people requiring care and attention.
Dr. Farmer gains respect by being so sure of a diagnosis when he treats a patient. There is an instance where an intern? Is attempting to diagnose a thirteen-year-old girl, and Farmer stresses the importance of being correct, “Doctors, doctors, what’s going on with you? You do not administer an antibiotic to a person with meningitis until you have done a spinal tap and know the variety of meningitis and thus which drug will work.”(Kidder, 2009, p. 32). He would rather be positive about what is going on and do a little extra work, then give the patient incorrect information. This creates a sense of security for the patients. They are able to trust Dr. Farmer because he is not doubting himself. …show more content…
Farmer has established is further illustrated by his commitment to the TB patients. He notices a decrease in the amount of people being cured of TB in his absence and immediately takes an interest. After conducting an experiment where some patients are given medication in combination with additional benefits like money for food and free transportation to the hospital (Kidder, 2009, p.34). Dr. Farmer finds that taking and maintaining an interest is a huge factor in patient care. He realizes that the standard he embodies is centered around giving patients a clear path of recovery. It takes more than just handing them a bottle of