I've heard the phrase "bottomless well of need" -- exactly that phrase --from more than one of my family members in the medical profession, all of whom are cari

I've heard the phrase "bottomless well of need" -- exactly that phrase --from more than one of my family members in the medical profession, all of whom are caring to the point of self-sacrifice. It's a vivid, pointed, and completely accurate description of a significant minority of patients who present a real challenge to doctors and nurses. My brother-in-law is an ER doc. He treats an alarmingly high number of patients who threaten to sue him if he's not willing to give them his phone number, write an immediate referral, or prescribe opioids. These are patients with real pain, real problems, who are understandably desperate for relief, and who are easily capable of completely dominating a doctor's time and attention. The implication of an obvious disdain for humanity here is pretty uncharitable. Just as it's difficult to relate to chronic disease from the outside, I think it's difficult to relate to the challenges of treating and caring for the afflicted.