Whether it concerns a back pain, an angina, a vaccine booster, in Pierre-Louis Druais's office, each consultation (or almost) ends on the same subject.
"Three quarters of patients tell me about Christmas, and that's good," says the doctor from Port-Marly (Yvelines), the only general practitioner to be part of the special Covid-19 scientific council.
Forty-three years of using a stethoscope around his neck allow him to have a broad view of the concerns, two weeks away from the long-awaited festivities.
“In my patient base, I have parents, children and sometimes grandchildren… It helps to understand everyone's concerns,” he notes.
The two questions that keep coming up?
Christmas, what do you think?
You, Doctor, what would you do?
"
Doctor, not "director of conscience"
Almost word for word, that's what Dr Delphine Secret-Pouliquen also hears in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray (Seine-Maritime).
“These are the recurring questions, people need to understand.
Christmas, as well as the arrival of vaccines, occupy a good five minutes of our consultations, ”she said.
But what do they answer?
“Already, we can not have a speech as clear as the one we hear on the sets saying that we must ban Christmas, summarizes the general practitioner.
We have seen too much, for months, the psychological impact of the current situation on the population!
"
“Considering the numbers, it is not time to relax and nothing indicates a possible improvement between now and the holidays.
It must be said clearly, urges Professor Druais.
However, I remind you that I am not a director of conscience, but a doctor, there to support the patient's decision.
In medicine, as with everything, there is an element of negotiation.
"
Example, an elderly patient, treated with chemotherapy for advanced cancer.
“On the tails, obviously, it's not reasonable for him to see people.
On the other side, there is a risk that it will be one of his last Christmases.
We must therefore invent a different, minimalist party, have a snack rather than a meal, keep the distance even more, ”he explains, while the government is due to announce its roadmap on Thursday, after the rebellion of virus that has not entrenched itself as much as hoped.
No sagging, even with negative test
“Today, patients have to be given the keys to succeed.
Explain to them the six gauge at the table, say that we put picks on the toast, that only one person serves at the table, that we ventilate even if it is cold, that we keep the mask, even if it is is painful.
And also, insists Doctor Secret-Pouliquen, that a test carried out before Christmas must not create false reassurance.
He is speaking at time T and false negatives are possible.
So we keep the distance anyway and at the slightest symptom, we give up ... "
Pierre-Louis Druais himself does not know if he will celebrate Christmas with his family.
"We will decide around the 20th, not before," he blurted, quite embarrassed, with his wife, at the idea of deciding on the guests, who have two children as a couple and three grandchildren.
“In each family, we have to find the right compromise, the right method and above all turn it in a positive way.
Priority must be given to prevention to coercion.
"