Some years ago I watched a movie alled Patch Adams, mainly attracted to it because the lead actor was Robin Williams. Williams is one of the most gifted actors in the world, and if you read up about him, he is also a great man.
Anyway, for the benefit of those who's never watched the movie, Patch Adams tells of a medical student's unorthodox ways of treating patients. In the domain of doctors, their practices are considered holy, and their opinions are considered visionary.
Much like the Williams himself, Patch is a comedian. A man so funny and happy that on his student transcript, an envious dean noted he was "excessively happy".
But because of his unorthodox ways (like wearing a red nose patch when treating patients, like treating an elderly woman who refused to eat by swimming with her in a pool of spaghetti!), he was frowned upon by several members of the staff, fellow students and nurses.
Patch says it was not the field that was was uncomfortable with his demeanour, but personalities within the field.
While studying, he opened a little ranch (with the help of a benefactor I think), where much like a soup kitchen, people can just walk in for food, treatment or just company. He had several fellow students and his girlfriend who joined him.
When it was discovered (i.e. practising without a licence), he was to be dismissed from university. This despite the fact that he was a top student. He of course fought the dismissal through an Appeal Board.
At the sitting, he defended his "practice". I sum up his defence:
"If making someone feel better and healthier is "treating" a patient, then I am guilty as charged. But the people who come to the ranch are both patients and doctors. They were patients if they came for treatment, they were doctors if they just stayed to help out."
Why did Patch see things this way?
"When did doctors cross the line from being people who are supposed to help others, to people who treat diseases? Treat the disease and you'll either win or lose. Treat the patient sir, and you'll win. All the time."
He graduated of course, and continues to practice the Patch Adams way.
Why is he inspiring?
How many of us work because it pays the bills? How many of us do things because we have to do it and not because we have a passion for doing it?
Do we conform, because its safe, or dare we challenge the norm despite risks?
Patch Adams inspired more than 1,000 doctors to put their names on his Gesundheit Hospital volunteer list. These doctors volunteered to leave their current practices, their safety nets to do work the Patch Adams Way.
A man who inspires these doctors to break the mould must be special.
Be a Patch Adams.
Anyway, for the benefit of those who's never watched the movie, Patch Adams tells of a medical student's unorthodox ways of treating patients. In the domain of doctors, their practices are considered holy, and their opinions are considered visionary.
Much like the Williams himself, Patch is a comedian. A man so funny and happy that on his student transcript, an envious dean noted he was "excessively happy".
But because of his unorthodox ways (like wearing a red nose patch when treating patients, like treating an elderly woman who refused to eat by swimming with her in a pool of spaghetti!), he was frowned upon by several members of the staff, fellow students and nurses.
Patch says it was not the field that was was uncomfortable with his demeanour, but personalities within the field.
While studying, he opened a little ranch (with the help of a benefactor I think), where much like a soup kitchen, people can just walk in for food, treatment or just company. He had several fellow students and his girlfriend who joined him.
When it was discovered (i.e. practising without a licence), he was to be dismissed from university. This despite the fact that he was a top student. He of course fought the dismissal through an Appeal Board.
At the sitting, he defended his "practice". I sum up his defence:
"If making someone feel better and healthier is "treating" a patient, then I am guilty as charged. But the people who come to the ranch are both patients and doctors. They were patients if they came for treatment, they were doctors if they just stayed to help out."
Why did Patch see things this way?
"When did doctors cross the line from being people who are supposed to help others, to people who treat diseases? Treat the disease and you'll either win or lose. Treat the patient sir, and you'll win. All the time."
He graduated of course, and continues to practice the Patch Adams way.
Why is he inspiring?
How many of us work because it pays the bills? How many of us do things because we have to do it and not because we have a passion for doing it?
Do we conform, because its safe, or dare we challenge the norm despite risks?
Patch Adams inspired more than 1,000 doctors to put their names on his Gesundheit Hospital volunteer list. These doctors volunteered to leave their current practices, their safety nets to do work the Patch Adams Way.
A man who inspires these doctors to break the mould must be special.
Be a Patch Adams.
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