Opioids, Expectations, and Ethos: A Global Take on Pain Management in Surgery and Pregnancy
Abstract
( Anesthesiology . 2025;142(6):992-994. DOI: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000005461.) There is a classic Buddhist parable that describes a grieving mother named Kisa Gotami, who lost her only child. In the parable, she asks for help from Buddha in hopes of him bringing her child back from death. The Buddha responds that he can if Kisa brings back a mustard seed from a home that has never experienced death. Kisa goes door to door and realizes people are willing to give her seeds, and they have all experienced some type of loss. It helps her realize how universal human suffering really is, and she decides to try to discover peace by accepting her loss instead of resisting the pain.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Anesthesia and Pain Management
Pain Management and Opioid Use
Ethics and bioethics in healthcare
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Obstetric Anesthesia Digest
- Volume
- 46
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 7–8
- Publication date
- 1 March 2026
- Language
- EN