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Description:

An immersive reading of Forgotten on Sunday by Valerie Perrin translated by Hildegarde Serle with reflection on nursing homes, caregivers, loneliness and dementia.

Website:

https://anauscultation.wordpress.com

Work:

“How's it going today, Monsieur Girardot?”
"My wife has died."
"That was a long time ago, now."
"You know, when you've lost the person you loved most in the world, you lose her every day."

"How's it going today, Monsieur Duclos?"
"Shut it, stupid bitch."
"Well, I say, you're going strong this morning."
"How the hell d'you think it's going?"
"Like a late summer."
"Stupid bitch."
"I can be. Come on, time to get up."
"What the hell are you doing?"
"You need to have a wash, Monsieur Duclos."
"Go fuck yourself."
"Well, I wouldn't say no."
"Asshole."
"OK, I'll see if that's possible."

[…]

"How's it going today, Monsieur Mouron?"
"The pain in my legs ….. Didn't sleep a wink all night."
"I'll ask the doctor to come by this morning, OK?"
"If you like."
"Shall I switch the TV on?"
"No. It's just women's stuff in the morning."

"How's it going today, Madame Minger?"
"Someone's stolen my glasses."
"Really? Have you looked everywhere?"
"Everywhere. I'm sure it's old Houdenot who's at it again."
"Madame Houdenot? Why would she have stolen your glasses?"
"To annoy me, of course."

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Description:
An immersive reading of A Hymn to God the Father by John Donne with reflection on medical errors and confession.

Website:
https://anauscultation.wordpress.com

Work:

A Hymn to God the Father by John Donne

Wilt thou forgive that sin where I begun,
Which was my sin, though it were done before?
Wilt thou forgive that sin, through which I run,
And do run still, though still I do deplore?
When thou hast done, thou hast not done,
For I have more.

Wilt thou forgive that sin which I have won
Others to sin, and made my sin their door?
Wilt thou forgive that sin which I did shun
A year or two, but wallow'd in, a score?
When thou hast done, thou hast not done,
For I have more.

I have a sin of fear, that when I have spun
My last thread, I shall perish on the shore;
But swear by thyself, that at my death thy Son
Shall shine as he shines now, and heretofore;
And, having done that, thou hast done;
I fear no more.

References:

Wu AW. Medical error: the second victim. The doctor who makes the mistake needs help too. BMJ. 2000 Mar 18;320(7237):726-7. doi: 10.1136/bmj.320.7237.726.

Finkelstein A, Brezis M, Taub A, Arad D. Disclosure following a medical error: lessons learned from a national initiative of workshops with patients, healthcare teams, and executives. Isr J Health Policy Res. 2024 Mar 11;13(1):13.

Rodziewicz TL, Houseman B, Vaqar S, et al. Medical Error Reduction and Prevention. [Updated 2024 Feb 12]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499956/

Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Quality of Health Care in America. To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System. Kohn LT, Corrigan JM, Donaldson MS, editors. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2000. PMID: 25077248.

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Description:

An immersive reading of Thoughts by Myra Viola Wilds with reflection on psychotherapy, meditation, cognitive behavioral therapy and vision loss.

Website:

https://anauscultation.wordpress.com

Work:

Thoughts by Myra Viola Wilds

In your travels day by day

Are they bright and lofty visions,

Or neglected, gone astray?

Matters not how great in fancy,

Or what deeds of skill you’ve wrought;

Man, though high may be his station,

Is no better than his thoughts.

Catch your thoughts and hold them tightly,

Let each one an honor be;

Purge them, scourge them, burnish brightly,

Then in love set each one free.

References:

Chand SP, Kuckel DP, Huecker MR. Cognitive Behavior Therapy. [Updated 2023 May 23]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470241/

(2025, March 5). Overview - Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). nhs.uk. https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-cbt/overview/

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Description:
A review of the highlights from the Fall 2024 edition of Intima

Website:
https://anauscultation.wordpress.com

Work:

Changing the Bag by Paul Shovlin: https://www.theintima.org/changing-the-bag-paul-shovlin

Dear Rescue Worker by Joan Roger: https://www.theintima.org/dear-rescue-worker-joan-roger

Inscribed on a Pill Box by Maya Klauber: https://www.theintima.org/inscribed-on-a-pill-box-maya-klauber

Omens by Ryan Boyland: https://www.theintima.org/omens-ryan-boyland

Harmonic Helix by Anna Hostal: https://www.theintima.org/harmonic-helix-by-anna-hostal

Migraine Nymph with Aura by Elizabeth Baxmeyer: A Being from the Land of Triptan https://www.theintima.org/migraine-nymph-with-aura-elizabeth-baxmeyer

White Coat Ceremony by Angela Tang Tan: https://www.theintima.org/white-coat-ceremony-angela-tang-tan

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Description:
An immersive reading of The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy with reflection on incontinence, caregivers, and existential distress.

Website:
https://anauscultation.wordpress.com

Work:

The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky.

Special arrangements were also made for his stools, and this was a torment to him each time. A torment in its uncleanness, indecency, and smell, in the awareness that another person had to take part in it.

But in this most unpleasant matter there also appeared a consolation for Ivan Ilyich. The butler's helper, Gerasim, always came to clear away after him.

Gerasim was a clean, fresh young muzhik, grown sleek on town grub. Always cheerful, bright. At first the sight of this man, always clean, dressed Russian style, performing this repulsive chore, embarrassed Ivan Ilyich.

Once, having gotten up from the commode and being unable to pull up his trousers, he collapsed into the soft armchair, looking with horror at his naked, strengthless thighs with their sharply outlined muscles.

Gerasim, in heavy boots, spreading around him the pleasant smell of boot tar and the freshness of winter air, came in with a light, strong step, in a clean canvas apron and a clean cotton shirt, the sleeves rolled up on his bared, strong, young arms, and without looking at Ivan Ilyich¾obviously restraining the joy of life shining on his face, so as not to offend the sick man¾went to the commode.

"Gerasim," Ivan Ilyich said weakly. Gerasim gave a start, evidently afraid he was remiss in something, and with a quick movement he turned to the sick man his fresh, kind, simple young face, only just beginning to sprout a beard.

"What, sir?"

"I suppose this must be unpleasant for you. Excuse me. I can't help it. "

"Mercy, sir." And Gerasim flashed his eyes and bared his young, white teeth. "Why shouldn't I do it? It's a matter of you being sick." And with his deft, strong hands he did his usual business and went out, stepping lightly. And five minutes later, stepping just as lightly, he came back.

References:

The Death of Ivan Ilyich: https://web.stanford.edu/~jsabol/existentialism/materials/tolstoy_death_ilyich.pdf

Tolstoy, Leo, The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories (Vintage, 2010)

Charlton B, Verghese A. Caring for Ivan Ilyich. J Gen Intern Med. 2010 Jan;25(1):93-5.

Lucas V. The death of Ivan Ilyich and the concept of 'total pain'. Clin Med (Lond). 2012 Dec;12(6):601-2.

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E45 Long Neglect Has Worn Away by Emily Bronte

Description:

An immersive reading of Long Neglect Has Worn Away by Emily Bronte with reflection on transience and permeance, tuberculosis and facial maladies.

Website:

https://anauscultation.wordpress.com

Work:

[Long Neglect Has Worn Away] by Emily Bronte

Long neglect has worn away
Half the sweet enchanting smile;
Time has turned the bloom to gray;
Mold and damp the face defile.

But that lock of silky hair,
Still beneath the picture twined,
Tells what once those features were,
Paints their image on the mind.

Fair the hand that traced that line,
“Dearest, ever deem me true”;
Swiftly flew the fingers fine
When the pen that motto drew.

References:

Emily Bronte: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/emily-bronte

Bansal R, Jain A, Mittal S. Orofacial tuberculosis: Clinical manifestations, diagnosis and management. J Family Med Prim Care. 2015 Jul-Sep;4(3):335-41.

Quaranta N, Petrone P, Michailidou A, Miragliotta L, Santantonio M, Del Prete R, Mosca A, Miragliotta G. Tuberculous otitis media with facial paralysis: a clinical and microbiological diagnosis-a case report. Case Rep Infect Dis. 2011;2011:932608.

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Description:
An immersive reading of Tanka and Haiku by Sadakichi Hartmann with reflection on tanka, haiku, and aging.

Website:
https://anauscultation.wordpress.com

Work:

Tanka and Haiku by Sadakichi Hartmann

Tanka IX
Were we able to tell
When old age would come our way,
We would muffle the bell,
Lock the door and go away
Let him call some other day

Haikai IV
Oh, red maple leaves,
There seem more of you these eves
Than ever grew on trees

References:

Tanka and Haikai: 14 Japanese Rhythms (Author’s Edition, 1916): https://www.thehaikufoundation.org/omeka/files/original/007ef74e882c8829c0ec2e7f7eac2f6b.pdf

Sadakichi Hartman: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/sadakichi-hartmann

Sadakichi Hartman: https://aaww.org/sadakichi-hartmann-missing-link/

Tanka: https://poets.org/glossary/tanka

Haiku: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/education/glossary/haiku-or-hokku

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Description:
An immersive reading of A Prayer to the Asvins by Ghosha translated by H. D. Griswold with reflection on physician gods, Gosha, leprosy, praise and gift exchange.

Website:
https://anauscultation.wordpress.com/

Work:
A Prayer to the Asvins
Ghosha translated by H. D. Griswold

Your car, the swiftly-rolling:, circumambient,
To be saluted day and night by worshippers,
Asvins, that car of yours we here invoke,
Just as the name of father, easy to entreat.

Arouse the lovely hymns and make our thoughts to swell,
Stir up abundant riches, — that is our desire ;
Make glorious our heritage, ye Asvin pair ;
Yea, make us for our princes like the Soma dear.

Ye are good luck for her who groweth old at home ;
The slow — yea even the slowest one — ye help him on ;
Ye two are called physicians, healers of the blind,
Yea of the feeble and the one with broken limbs.

I call to you, O Asvins, listen to my cry,
And give your help to me as parents to a son ;
Friendless am I, bereft of relative, and poor,
Save me, O save me from the curse which rests on me.

Upon your chariot ye did bring to Vimada,
To be his consort, Purumitra's lovely maid ;
Came to the weakling’s wife in answer to her call.
And to Puramdhi gave the boon of motherhood.

Unto the singer Kali, who had reached old age,
Ye gave anew the boon of fresh and youthful strength ;
’Twas you that lifted Vandana from out the pit ;
Ye gave to Vispala the power at once to walk.

[...]

Come on that chariot which is speedier than thought.
That chariot, Asvins, which the Ribhus built for you;
On yoking which the daughter of the sky is born.
And from Vivasvat the auspicious day and night.

This praise-song have we made for you, O Asvins,
Have fashioned it as Bhrigus build a wagon ;
Have decked it as the bride is for the bridegroom,
Presenting it to you as our own offspring.

References:

Poem: https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.110065/page/n49/mode/2up

Wendy Doniger. Hindu Myths Penguin Classics 1975

https://chs.harvard.edu/douglas-frame-the-myth-of-return-in-early-greek-epic-6-evidence-for-the-meaning-of-the-indo-european-root-nes/

Cartwright, M. (2016, June 30). Ashvins. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/Ashvins/

Rig Veda: http://ancientvoice.wikidot.com/src-rvs:rv10-h30

Hyde, L. (2007). The gift: Creativity and the Artist in the Modern World. Vintage.