Saturday, May 12, 2007

Lessons from PATCH ADAMS !


Another POWERFUL movie played by Robin Williams ! This is a true story about Patch Adams, who was an UNCONVENTIONAL Doctor who believed that the biggest healing for patients was through the HEART and not just through medicine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter_%22Patch%22_Adams
Robin Williams plays the role of Patch beautifully and most amazingly from the heart ! Patch is a medical student who doesn't believe that Patients should be treated as Patients ( but as people) and that Doctors should not get attached to the individuals.
At the end of the movie, the villain of the movie moves the medical commission to debar Patch from practicing medicine because of his unorthodox methods. Needless to say, Patch wins.
Here is an excerpt from that scene !! Enjoy !!
Medical Commission : Did you consider the ramifications of your actions?
What if one of your patients had died?
Patch : What's wrong with death, sir?
What are we so mortally afraid of?
Why can't we treat death with a certain amount of humanity and dignity and decency...and, God forbid, maybe even humor?
Death is not the enemy, gentlemen.
If we're gonna fight a disease, let's fight one of the most terrible diseases of all-- indifference.
Now, I've sat in your schools and heard people lecture on transference... and professional distance. Transference is inevitable, sir.
Every human being has an impact on another.Why don't we want that in a patient/doctor relationship?
That's why I've listened to your teachings, and I believe they're wrong.
A doctor's mission should be not just to prevent death...but also to improve the quality of life.
That's why you treat a disease, you win, you lose.
You treat a person, I guarantee you, you win, no matter what the outcome !!!

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