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Doctors Struggle to Let Go as Caregivers
Attending to loved ones tests trust, humility and control
When healthcare workers find themselves in the back seat — as caregivers, not clinicians — the shift can feel disorienting, humbling and deeply personal.
Used to taking the lead in medical decisions, those doing the dispensing must learn to trust others and navigate vulnerability from a different seat.
Such role reversals are more common than many realize. A 2020 Journal of General Internal Medicine study found that more than 40 percent of physicians have served as informal caregivers. Yet even with medical expertise, the emotional toll remains high — and boundaries blur quickly.
Prescription for Uncontrolled Feelings
Physicians and healthcare professionals who become caregivers for their own family face the unique challenge of stepping back while still supporting care. Balancing empathy, humility and trust becomes essential.
Dr. Stephanie Miaco, Dr. Remo Aguilar and Dr. Helen Madamba have each doubled as family caregivers — inspiring one at a young age to pursue medicine, and in a couple of cases restricting careers to help loved ones in need.
