More than an illness

“Patch Adams”, a movie that tells the story of a medical student who wants to change the
view and methods of treating patients, opposing the system and almost losing his rights to
continue school because of this. Being a comedy film you wouldn’t expect it to make us
think too much on the different implications of the presented situation, but surprisingly it
does. Throughout the movie there is a character that opposes Patch in everything he does,
from how he chooses to approach the patients, to how well he does in school. And that is
the cold Dean Walcott. A true doctor for sure, a real professional, but is he a good doctor?
He has numerous memorable quotes but one that stuck with me the most is from the scene
where Patch, dressed as a clown, entertains a girl that is hospitalized. After questioning and
kicking him out of the room, Walcott states that:

”Patients don’t need to be entertained. They don’t need a friend. They need a doctor”.

First of all, the whole movie is set on the idea that treatment of the patient isn’t just curing
the disease, it also needs to be a way that leads to the ”improvement of someone’s life”.
And that is what Adams was looking for as well, trying to bring a smile to the face of the
child. Numerous studies conducted in recent years have proven that the mind and the body
are more connected than we previously thought, multiple conditions being determined by
unresolved emotional or psychological trauma. We all heard about the foundations of
volunteers that bring entertainment to children’s hospitals and how important these
activities are for increasing the morale. Walcott considers that the treatment of the patient
stops once the symptoms disappear.

Furthermore, doctors need to be the ones that are willing to listen when the patients need
the most help. By building a strong connection with them they manage to reach the source
of the problem better and even provide the will to live that is needed when one is sick. Just
as in the movie, where Bill Davis, the ill tempered near-death patient, found a way to accept
his upcoming ”expiration” thanks to the bond he formed with Adams.

However I can understand the point of view of the dean. Doctors need to maintain a
degree of professionalism, in order to make the right call and think objectively. People need
to have a certain view of the medical system and respect the ones that treat them. Plus if
doctors were to care deeply for each and every patient, in the event of a tragedy they’d be
devastated and wouldn’t be able to continue working in this domain. The problem is that
there needs to be a certain equilibrium in the doctors’ behaviour that benefits the patient.
Walcott is shown as looking down on people, almost like he is in an ivory tower where no
one can reach him, forgetting the fact that only by opening up you come to really
understand how to aid the ones that came to you.
 To conclude this I would like to believe that although the system sometimes calls for
objectivity and minimal emotional involvement, doctors should find a middle ground that is
beneficial for the health of the ones in need. The patient give their trust, why not showing it
back and perhaps help more if we start to listen. To be a good doctor means to be a good
friend as well.