In this age of "managed" care, I am touched by these stories of a doctor doing what we all hoped to be doing.
These doctors do not label themselves as "heros". I do.
I include links to full text of these articles. Fees may apply to the original publisher.
Tragedy and Response — The Rhode Island Nightclub Fire. Michael
J. Dacey, M.D. NEJM
349:1990-1992 November 20, 2003.
On February 20, 2003 a terrible nightclub
fire broke out in a crowded Rhode Island night club. Almost 100 people
were killed
and more than 200 were injured , many of them critically.
Dr. Dacey recounts what it was like to be
at the front line caring for the critically injured surviors.
Tools of the Trade - Danielle Ofri, M.D., Ph.D. NEJM
349:1693-1694 October 30, 2003 .
Dr. Ofri opened her heart to the
life story of and unconsious nursing home patient. She realized that
her hands were reaching back into history as she touched the skin of
her patient.
Nurse, Where Do We Keep the Chicken Wire and Lamp Cord?
By Larry Zaroff, M.D. NY Times - Science Times - Published: October 26, 2004 http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/26/health/26case.html
This is what medicine is about - figure out what your patient needs - and then see that he gets it.
In 1956, Larry Zaroff, then a medical intern,
figured out how to fashion an internal heart pacemaker from items he
had to purchase iin the local hardware store.
He then had to mobilize all of the resources of the hospstal - surgeon
/ O.R. / food cart to get his device into the patient.
Larry says it better than I can as he recounted it 48 years later in the New York Times.