Diplomate, Board Certification of Emergency Medicine
Chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine Ma'ayenei Hayeshua
Hospital
Some random thoughts . . .
People often call me for advice, and Mrs. Robinson called a
year and a half ago concerning whether her father should have
an operation to clean out arteries which would reduce his
risk of stroke. We went back and forth over that period to
the point where I felt I knew her father personally, although
I never met him. He did have the operation and did well
afterwards, yet months later he succumbed to an illness not
related to the operation. I am saddened by his loss.
On to other subjects. The Journal of the American Medical
Association reports that 430,000 Americans died from
cigarette smoking last year. Another report tried to find a
benefit for smoking, but did not succeed. Yet the Hebrew
edition of Yated printed a letter from someone in Haifa
that stated that the writer does not believe that there is
any danger at all for 4-5 cigarettes a day. I want to let my
readers know in no uncertain terms: the proof that smoking is
harmful to your health is better than the proof that the
world is round.
I washed my hands at a public place and found the two towels
sewn together over a bar as the only method they had for
drying them. These towels are very unsanitary, and probably
are related to the spread of flu and other diseases. Wash
your hands well with soap and running water, and dry them on
disposable towels.
I was asked to say a word about nursing. In Israel, mothers
are encouraged to use formula. There is evidence that nursing
babies receive more than just vitamins and energy from
nursing. They receive antibodies and other crucial materials
that lead to babies who grow up better-adjusted, healthier
and one study said even with higher IQs.
However, I felt I shouldn't say a word about mothers without
saying a word about fathers. Men should also be given the
opportunity to bind with a new baby, such as feeding them
from a bottle on an occasional night off for mother. I did
know one male who "didn't do diapers." Many never deal with
taking a child to the doctor. Those of us blessed with great
fathers probably do not need to read this, but my point is
that being a father is a responsibility as well.
Rav Adelman was a great talmid chochom who was born and
educated in Brisk. He lived in our hospital's geriatric ward
for a long time. He was known as a strong-willed man whose
stubbornness easily and suddenly would melt into warmth. He
was niftar with a clear mind until the end, wearing his
tallis and tefillin.
Rav Adelman and Mrs. Robinson's father reminded me once again
that despite all the attempts in medical school to condition
me to death, it never really worked. I promise to all my
readers, that despite whatever tough exterior your doctor
has, we all cry inside. You may say that it's because of the
fact that we are the most aware of our mortality. But let me
tell you a secret -- it's precisely because a pressing need
to do chesed that drove us into this field, and into
our patients' lives. This is what makes us feel a loss when
our patients have lost someone dear. But then again, it is
this which keeps us going as physicians. Write me in care of
the Yated.
