Difficult things Quote by Kitty Dukakis
““There is an element of selfishness to this, I suppose. It feels pretty good to be able to so quickly help someone. That is, after all, one of the great emotional payoffs of medicine. That isn't to say that ECT is either a panacea or without flaws - but when used in the right way for the right purposes it's of great benefit, and condemning it because it isn't perfect would lead to more suffering and harm, no less. It was one of the most difficult things I have ever done in my life. I have memory problems as a residual of it; however, I'm alive. That was the main point.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Psychiatric Treatment Discussion, 2020
ECT can be a valuable, albeit imperfect, tool in medicine, offering relief when used appropriately despite its flaws.
In simple terms: ECT helps but isn’t perfect.
Key Takeaway
Use treatments wisely, acknowledging limits.
Themes
medicine
ethics
mental health
treatment
risk
Mood
cautious
hopeful
Type
clinical
ethical
When to use this quote
- clinical decision‑making
- patient counseling
- medical education
Key Concepts
electroconvulsive therapy
benefit‑risk analysis
patient autonomy
Questions to Reflect On
- When is ECT justified?
- How to balance benefits against harms?
A Different Perspective
ECT carries risks and may cause side effects.
![“[P]eople who have ECT need to be prepared for some memories not returning - and for not being able to choose which they will be.” quote by Kitty Dukakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9b0/kitty-dukakis-85240_memories_p-eople-who-have-ect-need-to-be-prepared_103065.jpg)
![“[Stéphane Mallarmé] theory of the hermetic is a mistake, but he can be only difficult to read when he has difficult things to say.” quote by Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/35f/jean-paul-sartre-220_difficult_st-phane-mallarm-theory-of-the-hermetic_20348.jpg)
![“It was practically with people with strings. There was no CG involved, it was just painfully taking Collin [Farrell] and Jessica Biel and putting them upside-down, we built the set upside-down and just try to twist perspective to make it all seem like zero gravity. And it was one of the most…” quote by Len Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/335/len-wiseman-18620_built_it-was-practically-with-people-with-stri_99433.jpg)