Callous Comics

Give it to me straight... but not that straight!
    While in training to become a doctor or a specialist, one has the "license" to make mistakes.  It is the same as in any field of expertise, while you're in training you can make errors and learn from them because you have your mentors looking after you.  Because when all the training is done and you find yourself managing multiple patients on your own there would be no more room for error.
    There are many kinds of mentors and I was fortunate to have the kind that treated me as a colleague from the beginning of my training.  As opposed to those who were drill sergeants fond of chewing out their subordinates, embarrassing them in front of patients, and treating them like hired help ("Wash my car!", "Make me breakfast!", "Carry my bags!").
    In the above comic strip, Dr. Bagdasarian, Rianne's senior consultant in her department, disagreed with her assessment and management plan.  Nevertheless, he would rather discuss the matter further outside, beyond the patient's perception, so as not to shake his confidence in Rianne.  Most physicians understand just how precious that confidence is and to me, that makes a good mentor.