Review of Patch Adams (1998) by Sandra S — 14 Feb 2009

Brilliant, this is my favorite movie ever, since I wanted become a doctor. The storyline is so original. It makes me have to realize about hows really happen in hospital, about the administration and such. Doctor mostly know them because of their disease, not from their name. But The medical industry could not have been happy with Patch Adams. It makes doctors look bad. It makes hospitals look bad. It makes med schools look bad. On the other hand, it's so painfully awful that doctors may have been pleased when the number of ER visits shot up as people ran straight from movie theaters to hospitals in diabetic shock over this sugary, gooey, treacly excuse for a film.

This is my favorite dialogue.

Judge: ? Hunter Adams? .? You?ve been accused of practicing medicine without a license. That?s a very grave charge, son. Are you aware that it?s unlawful to practice medicine without a medical license??

Patch: ? yes sir, I am?

Judge: ?Are you aware that running a medical clinic without the proper licensing can place both you and the public in great deal of danger?

Patch: ?is it a home or clinic sir??

Dean: ?If you are admitting patients and treating them physical location is irrelevant.

Patch: ? sir, will you define treatment for me??

Judge: ?Yes, treatment would be defined as the care of a patients seeking medical attention. Have you been treating patients, Mr. Adams??

Patch: ?I live with several people. They come and go as they please. I offer them whatever help I can.?

Judge: ?Mr. Adams?have you or have you not been treating patients at your ranch??

Patch: ?Everyone who comes to the ranch is a patient, yes. And every person who comes to the ranch is also a doctor.

Judge: ? im sorry??

Patch: ? every person who comes to the ranch is in need?of some form of physical or mental help. They?re patients. But also every person who comes to the ranch is in charge of taking care of someone else. Whether it?s cooking them, cleaning them or even as simple a task as listening that makes them doctor. I use that term broadly, but is not a doctor someone else who helps someone else? When did the term ?doctor? get treated with such reverence, as, ?right this way, doctor smith??or, ?excuse me Dr. Scholl, what wonderful footpads??or pardon me Dr. Patterson but your flatulence has no odor?? And what point in history did a doctor become more?than a trusted and learned friend who visited and treated the ill? Now you ask me if I?ve been practicing medicine. Well if this means opening you door to those in need those in pain caring for them listening to them, applying a cold cloth until a fever breaks if this practicing medicine, if this treating a patients then im guilty as charged, sir.

Judge: ?did you consider the ramifications of your action?? what if one of your patients had died??

Patch: ?What?s wrong with death, sir?? what is so mortality afraid of? Why can?t we treat death with a certain amount of humanity and dignity and decency?and god forbid maybe even humor? Death is not the enemy, gentleman. If we?re gonna fight the disease, lets fight one of the most terrible diseases of all indifference. Now I?ve sat in your school and heard people lecture on transference?and professional distance. Transference is inevitable, sir. Every human being has an impact on another. Why don?t we won?t that in a patient-doctor relationship? That?s why I?ve listened to your teaching, and I believe they?re wrong. A doctor?s mission should be not just to prevent death?but also to improve the quality of life. That?s why you treated the disease, you win, you lose, you treat a person, I guarantee you, no matter what the outcome. Now here today this room is full of medical students. Don?t let them anesthetize you. Don?t let them numb you out to the miracle of life. Always live in awe of the glorious mechanism of the human body. Let that be the focus of your studies and not a quest for grades.. which?ll give you no idea what kind of doctor you will become.

Judge: ?please try and address the board.

Patch: ?don?t wait till you?re on the ward to get your humanity back. Start your interviewing skills. Start talking to strangers. Talk to your friends. Talk to wring number, everyone.

Judge: ?Mr. Adams.

Patch: ?and cultivate friendship with those amazing people in the back of the room?nurses that could teach you. They?ve been with people everyday. They wade through blood and shit. They have a wealth of knowledge and so so the professors you respect the ones who are not that from the heart up. Share their compassion let that be contagious.

Judge: ?Mr. Adams. I demand that you turn and address the board.

Patch: ?sir I want to be a doctor with all my heart? I wanted become a doctor so I could serve others?and because of that I?ve lost everything?nut I?ve also gained everything. I?ve shared the lives of patients and staff members of the hospital. I?ve laughed with them. I?ve cried with them. This is what I want to do in my life. And as God is my witness?no matter what your decision today, sir?I will still become the best damn doctor the world has ever since. Now you have the ability to prevent me from graduating. You can keep me from getting the title and the white coat. But you can?t control my sprit, gentlemen. You can?t keep me from learning. You can?t keep me from studying. So you have a choice you could have me as a professional colleagues?passionate?or you can have me as an outspoken outsider, still adamant. Either way ill probably still be viewed as a thorn. But promise you one thing. I am thorn that will not go away.

Judge: ?is that all??

Patch: ? I hope not, sir.?

Judge: ? we will adjourn briefly.

AFTER BREAK.

Judge: ? Hunter Adams . We find your methods less than appealing. You appearance and your demeanor do not reflect?what we believe is necessary?to earn the patient?s trust and respect. You openly accuse us of adhering to time-honor practices that for years have been the backbone of entire medical institutions. However.. we found no fault in your attempts? to improve the quality of life around you. We find no fault in your desire? to expand upon existing medical practices?and theories. We applaud your love of the patient. Yor grades are among the highest in your class?and therefore, we find no merit in the decision?to block your graduation from medical school. Now along with your crass and disdainful behavior you carry with you a flame?which one could only hope?would spread through the medical profession like brushfire. And, uh, Dean Wallcott?in the future, I think matter like this?could best be solved if you yourself would practice a little? ?excessive happiness?