A family doctor contends with the unspoken face of the corona pandemic for the Reflective Practice section.

Abstract

A family physician discusses the indirect effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on her patients and their families. Although her clinic did not suffer any deaths due to the virus, two cases are presented that depict what she terms the "unspoken pandemic" - the detrimental psycho-social effects of Corona. The narrative illustrates how a family doctor who is authentically engaged with her clients over the years has the advantage of being able to identify and address these psycho-social issues, despite the limitations imposed due to Corona. It is suggested that the potentially destructive impact of issues such as violence, anxiety and depression on families and society is no less significant than that of the virus itself.