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Do No Harm.

Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 1:05 am
by Loretta Ann
First, do no harm!

What is implicit in this simple precept of medicine?

An awesome power - the power to do harm.

Who gives you this power?

The patient.

A patient will come to you at his moment of greatest dread,
hand you a knife, and say, "Doctor cut me open."

Why?

Because he trusts you.

He trusts you the way a child trusts.
He trusts you - to do no harm.

Sad fact is, human beings are not worthy of trust.

It is human nature to lie, take short cuts, lose your nerve,
to get tired, make mistakes.

No rational patient would put his trust in a human being,
and we're not going to let him.

It is our mission here to rigorously and ruthlessly train the
humanity out of you and make you into something better.

We're gonna make doctors out of you.

-------------------------------------------------------------

The above was taken from a lecture to medical students in the
movie "PATCH ADAMS."

hey

Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 1:26 am
by Raven(SO)
Darlene..
who was in patch adams....was that Robyn williams...
he is a very gifted actor.

Raven

Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 1:33 am
by Loretta Ann
Hi Raven,

I don't know, that just arrived in my inbox and I passed it on, because it carries a message that I believe is true.

*;*;* Darlene.

Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 7:47 am
by Jassmine(SO)
Hi Raven ..o)..

Indeed that was Robin Williams. He is one of my favorite actors :)

*Hugs & Love* @->->- *^^*

hey

Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2005 7:12 pm
by Raven(SO)
yes Robin williams is very talented.... he was very good in mrs doubtfire.
Raven

Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2005 7:35 pm
by Jessie
If there is any one I love to sit down and try and have a converation with Robin Williams is one those who is top on my list.

Image

from the birdcage one of his great roles

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 2:05 am
by Jeanie-Marie
How about Good Morning Vietnam? :-k
Oldie but goody
Hugs Jeanie-Marie

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 5:09 pm
by Jamie Ann
Darlene wrote:Hi Raven,

I don't know, that just arrived in my inbox and I passed it on, because it carries a message that I believe is true.

Darlene.
       The film Patch Adams was provocative, as I noted is a discussion (link) more than five weeks ago. On the negative side, Hunter Adams (upon whom the film was based) did not have much regard for scientific medicine; on the plus side, he was someone who wanted to make a difference in this world — a liberal in the truest sense.

       One of the problems with blindly quoting material, not knowing the context or the original purpose, is that you are not in a position to comment intelligently upon it. The purpose of the speech with which you say you are agreeing was to dramatize the view of medicine Patch Adams was opposed to and wanted to change. That speech was a caricature of scientific medicine, intended to exaggerate its defects. While I have some sympathy for the position Patch Adams represents, I find it amusing that you are agreeing with a caricature that does not adequately represent either side of the issue!