some 15 years ago, a regular contributor to the NY Times Sunday magazine, wrote a very interesting column.
he was a pediatrician, and he admitted for many years, when mother's would come to him, and complain about their babies, he would say, "its just colic, they will out grow it in a few months"
then he had a kid of his own, and his kid got colic.. and suddenly, the shoe was on the other foot. Now, his sleep was disturbed, now he came home to a frustrated wife, who dumped a screaming child in his arms and demand he do something.
like many children with colic, he son continued to gain weight, and generally thrive.. but the doctor admitted, that for the first time he understood how mother could smother a baby, shake a baby, or even feed spoon full's of brandy to a baby, anything, to get it to stop crying.
I don't think that its required to for doctors to personally experience something to understand it, but... there is something about personal experience...
the doctor continued to tell mothers, "this will pass, the baby will get over it" but now he added, "Here are some things you can do for the baby, (rocking, car rides often help) and here is what you need to do for your self, since it is a very upsetting time for you.." he became more empathetic, with the mothers frustrations. it didn't do anything for the babies and their colic, but it made him a better doctor, for the mothers!
