The fine art of patient-doctor relationships
BMJ 2004; 329 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.329.7480.1475 (Published 16 December 2004) Cite this as: BMJ 2004;329:1475
- M P Park, lecturer in history of art1,
- R H R Park, consultant gastroenterologist (mpark@educ.gla.ac.uk)2
- 1 Department of Adult and Continuing Education, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G3 6NH
- 2 Southern General Hospital, Glasgow G51 4TF
- Correspondence to: M P Park
At Christmas many doctors experience brief but well intentioned and tangible gestures of successful patient-doctor relationships. Various patients' gifts, such as boxes of chocolates or bottles of wine, are always appreciated by the recipient. Although doctors may receive more permanent gifts, very few will have had the delight of having their portrait painted by their patient. Artists from different ages and cultures—Goya, Kahlo, Bellany, Van Gogh, Munch, and Dadd—have all had the desire to record their special relationship with their doctors.
Goya and Dr Arrieta
The Spanish artist Francisco Goya (1746-1828) has left the most moving testimony of his gratitude for the close relationship with his doctor in Self Portrait with Dr Arrieta (1820) (fig 1). In Seville, in the autumn of 1792, Goya developed a sudden serious illness which included dizziness, weakness, delirium, sickness, abdominal pain, deafness, and partial blindness.1 2 The name of his doctor has not been recorded. He convalesced in Cadiz, where in March 1793 his friend Sebastian Martinez reported: “Goya is slightly better but progress is sadly slow. The noises in his head and his deafness have not passed away; however, his sight has improved and he no longer has fits of dizziness and can walk up and down stairs without difficulty.” On his return to Madrid in July 1793 Goya was completely deaf. Various diagnoses of this serious illness have been offered: syphilis, lead poisoning, cerebrovascular disease, acute infection of the central nervous system, and the rare condition of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome—temporary inflammation of the uveal tract associated with permanent deafness.2
Goya's Self Portrait with Dr Arrieta, 1820. Minneapolis Institute of Arts, The Ethel Morrison Derlip Fund
In 1819 Goya had a second serious illness. Little information is available either on the nature of the illness or on Dr Arrieta's treatment. The painting is the main …