A Topper ramble about Patch and doctors' training

[Guest guest]

How many of you have seen the move Patch ?

Did you know that is based on a real guy? A guy that really opened a

clinic like the one depicted in the movie.

I'd seen it maybe three or four times and thought it was cool, moving, a

tear jerker... but when I saw it a couple of weeks ago I went to the web

site. Yep.. he has a web site.

www.patchadams.org

This is an excerpt from the movie. It's the speech given to the new

doctors that have come to the institute that Patch trained at to become a

doctor.

This is what Patch, and the other students got for their first speech,

from the instructor.

It makes my skin crawl. I'm not exaggerating, either.... If you have some

time.. wander over to his web site and read. He has a dream, a really

wonderful dream. I think I know, now, what sparked the idea in my mind to

start a thyroid clinic... But, like Patch and those working with him, it

all boils down to money. You either go with the flow of the ones that

make the money and the rules, or you go very slowly.

I want so badly for everyone to get PROPER medical care.. but, since I am

among the many, I want those with thyroid disorders to FINALLY get

treated like human beings. Not stupid, whinny women, Not hypochondriacs

with zero tolerance for pain.

Gosh.. to impose upon one doctor that has abused me the pain that I

endure, even now, for just one week... and then ask him if it's all in

his head, or because he eats too much or fails to exercise. Or needs

something to occupy his mind other than sitting on the couch watching

soaps.

There is nothing on TV for another couple of hours.. so I dug out the

Patch tape to listen to while I work on the puter and do emails and

such..... and it just seemed to be time to say this to someone other than

myself.

Someday, maybe not in my lifetime. We'll be treated like people. In the

mean time, we have information and support groups that we can gather

through and learn how to seek better care or care for ourselves... And

all kinds of web sites that will inform and guide those that seek more

info. I know that the site that and I have is only one of hundreds

of thousands... but if it only guides a few folks in a direction that

allows them to understand what they are going to, and to assure them that

they are not insane.. then it will be worth every hour of time that we've

put into it.

Topper ()

www.thyrophoenix.com

Here is that doc's speech:

" First, do no harm. That's implicit in this simple precept of medicine.

An awesome power. The power to do harm.

Who gives you this power? The patient.

The 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, get tired, make mistakes.

No rational patient would put has trust in a human being and we're not

gonna 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 "

[Guest guest]

YYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Topper ramble about Patch and

doctors' training

> How many of you have seen the move Patch ?

>

> Did you know that is based on a real guy? A guy that really opened a

> clinic like the one depicted in the movie.

>

> I'd seen it maybe three or four times and thought it was cool, moving, a

> tear jerker... but when I saw it a couple of weeks ago I went to the web

> site. Yep.. he has a web site.

>

> www.patchadams.org

>

> This is an excerpt from the movie. It's the speech given to the new

> doctors that have come to the institute that Patch trained at to become a

> doctor.

>

> This is what Patch, and the other students got for their first speech,

> from the instructor.

>

> It makes my skin crawl. I'm not exaggerating, either.... If you have some

> time.. wander over to his web site and read. He has a dream, a really

> wonderful dream. I think I know, now, what sparked the idea in my mind to

> start a thyroid clinic... But, like Patch and those working with him, it

> all boils down to money. You either go with the flow of the ones that

> make the money and the rules, or you go very slowly.

>

> I want so badly for everyone to get PROPER medical care.. but, since I am

> among the many, I want those with thyroid disorders to FINALLY get

> treated like human beings. Not stupid, whinny women, Not hypochondriacs

> with zero tolerance for pain.

>

> Gosh.. to impose upon one doctor that has abused me the pain that I

> endure, even now, for just one week... and then ask him if it's all in

> his head, or because he eats too much or fails to exercise. Or needs

> something to occupy his mind other than sitting on the couch watching

> soaps.

>

> There is nothing on TV for another couple of hours.. so I dug out the

> Patch tape to listen to while I work on the puter and do emails and

> such..... and it just seemed to be time to say this to someone other than

> myself.

>

> Someday, maybe not in my lifetime. We'll be treated like people. In the

> mean time, we have information and support groups that we can gather

> through and learn how to seek better care or care for ourselves... And

> all kinds of web sites that will inform and guide those that seek more

> info. I know that the site that and I have is only one of hundreds

> of thousands... but if it only guides a few folks in a direction that

> allows them to understand what they are going to, and to assure them that

> they are not insane.. then it will be worth every hour of time that we've

> put into it.

>

> Topper ()

> www.thyrophoenix.com

>

> Here is that doc's speech:

>

> " First, do no harm. That's implicit in this simple precept of medicine.

> An awesome power. The power to do harm.

>

> Who gives you this power? The patient.

>

> The 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, get tired, make mistakes.

>

> No rational patient would put has trust in a human being and we're not

> gonna 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 "