阅读下列短文，根据短文内容。从短文所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选择最佳选。
Studies have shown it takes a doctor about
18 seconds to stop a patient after he begins talking.
It was Sunday. I had one last patient to
see. I came close to her room in a hurry and stood at the doorway. She was an
older woman, sitting at the edge of the bed, trying to put socks on her swollen
feet. I spoke quickly to the nurse, saw her chart saying she was in stable
condition. I was almost in the clear.
She asked if I could help put on her socks.
Instead, I began a long speech that went something like this: "How are you
feeling? Your blood sugar and blood pressure were high but they're better today. The nurse
said you can't wait to see your son who's visiting you today. It's nice to have family visit
from far away. I'm sure you really look
forward to seeing him."
She stopped me with a serious voice. "Sit
down, doctor. This is my story, not your story."
I was surprised and ashamed. I sat down. I
helped her with the socks. She began to tell me that her only son lived around
the corner from her, but she had not seen him in five years. She believed that
the pressure of this caused greatly to her health problems. After hearing her
story and putting on her socks, I asked if there was anything else I could do
for her. She shook her head and smiled. All she wanted me to do was to listen.
Listening to someone's story costs less than
expensive diagnostic testing but is key to healing. I often thought of what
that woman taught me—the importance of stopping, sitting down and
truly listening. And, not long after, unexpectedly, I became the patient, with
a diagnosis of sclerosis at age 31. Now, 20 years later, I sit all the time—in a wheelchair.
For as long as I could, I continued to see
patients from my chair, but I had to give up my job when my hands were
influenced. I still teach medical students and other health care professionals,
but now from the view of doctor and patient.
I tell them I believe in the power of
listening. I tell them I know firsthand that huge healing takes place within me
when someone stops, sits down and listens to my story.
