Gettysburg Medical News
The Clinical View
by P.E. Hoffsten, M.D.

CHRISTMAS 2001 - A CHANGING TIME

     Last year’s Christmas column was devoted to thank yous to the many, many people who make our healthcare system work.  Those thank you’s are repeated at this time, doubled and redoubled to all those who make our healthcare systems work.  But I want to bring another message this year when Americans are again involved in a military action carried out with the highest moral intent.  Many of our sons and daughters will spend this Christmas in a faraway land in less than festive surroundings facing mortal dangers.  To them, I want to extend our highest thank yous and our heartfelt honor and respect.

    Recently, Dr. Richard Holm from Broookings, SD, and president of a South Dakota Medical Association wrote a column that offered a very high message.  He described an incident in which he had been bilked out of a modest amount of money by a con artist.  The con artist had presented himself as a struggling young doctor who had had the misfortune of having his car towed based on a parking violation.  The young con artist manipulated Dr. Holm into believing that $85.00 was needed to get the con artist’s car out of the police impound and Dr. Holm would have been repaid from money that was available in the con artist’s car.  The story ends with the con artist going into the police station with the $85.00 never to be seen again.  Dr. Holm describes losing $85.00 but describes a much bigger loss.  He describes how his mood and his trust in mankind changed at that moment.  Little mentioned was his tarnished self image realizing that he had been bilked.

    As he rethought the situation, good feelings returned.  He had acted in good faith to help someone he perceived to be in distress.  While one con artist had an $85.00 success, Dr. Holm vowed that he would not let this individual steal his spirit of helping others.  He would continue to act in good faith to help others in their perceived needs in spite of one rotten apple.

    This message can be broadened and extended in light of the World Trade Center bombings that occurred in September of this year.  This heinous crime can never be made right and we can never get even but our president and our leaders and our country have acted in a responsible manner to prevent further such events in the future.  While our trust in others may be tightened by this event, we must not let the terrorist  rob us of our utmost precious commodity which is our faith in each other.  We must avoid bitterness, while maintaining respect and support for the losses so many received.  But never let a terrorist rob us of our faith in each other, our American spirit of freedom, our values, and our way of life.  Celebrate this Christmas as we always would.

     Past columns have devoted attention to the psychological aspects of health.  It has been pointed out that a pessimistic attitude is associated with a reduced likelihood of recovery when illness strikes.  It has been pointed out that chronic anger is associated with an early mortality. Most importantly, it has been pointed out that an individual who is self directed remains much healthier than those who allow their lives to be impacted and run by others.  We need to maintain an optimist and cordial attitude.  Don’t let the terrorists decide for you that you will be angry, pessimistic, and sad for this Christmas season.  Our war against evil and terrorism will never be over but we can be comforted by the belief that the worse terrorist act in American history will never recur and our American way of life will be preserved.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!