Forgiving: Forgive others to start healing
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/forgiving/MY01257
- With Mayo Clinic oncologist
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
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Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Edward Creagan, M.D.
"The magic of the electronic village is transforming health information. The mouse and keyboard have extended the stethoscope to the 500 million people now online." — Dr. Edward Creagan
The power of the medium inspires Dr. Edward Creagan as he searches for ways to share Mayo Clinic's vast resources with the general public.
Dr. Creagan, a Newark, N.J., native, is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hospice medicine and palliative care. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1973 and in 1999 was president of the staff of Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Creagan, a professor of medical oncology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, was honored in 1995 with the John and Roma Rouse Professor of Humanism in Medicine Award and in 1992 with the Distinguished Mayo Clinician Award, Mayo's highest recognition. He has been recognized with the American Cancer Society Professorship of Clinical Oncology.
He describes his areas of special interest as "wellness as a bio-psycho-social-spiritual-financial model" and fitness, mind-body connection, aging and burnout.
Dr. Creagan has been an associate medical editor with Mayo Clinic's health information websites and has edited publications and CD-ROMs and reviewed articles.
"We the team of (the website) provide reliable, easy-to-understand health and wellness information so that each of us can have productive, meaningful lives," he says.
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Stress blog
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April 1, 2010
Forgiving: Forgive others to start healing
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
A routine checkup for one of my patients turned into something far more powerful. My patient had undergone surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, but he's now cancer-free and looking forward to a life of health and well-being. As we visited, I asked him about his family and his business.
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He was quiet for a few moments and then tearfully responded that a devoted young colleague had been tragically killed in an industrial accident. As head of the company, my patient was devastated. He said he'd requested an outside review of the company's systems and procedures. State and governmental agencies documented that every reasonable safeguard had been followed. This was simply a tragic mistake.
Often these situations ignite an avalanche of anger, bitterness and recrimination, followed by bitter, protracted lawsuits that drag on forever. In this case, however, none of this happened. Of course, the family was overwhelmed with feelings of grief and loss, but they did not strike out against the company. Their belief system was deeply anchored in forgiveness. They embraced the notion of a grand plan that unfolds according to a greater purpose.
The family reached out to my patient and publicly forgave him and his company, allowing the healing to begin. It is a rare person who has the gift of total forgiveness in the face of devastating loss. But it reminds us that during tragic times we find sources of strength and peace to keep us going.
What other lessons can we learn from this experience and what stories can you share about the power of forgiveness?
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