News Item: Iraq's Doctors

[hbutler at pol.net]

  Is it possible to work in Iraq for the civilians?

H. Butler M.D., FACS

> Ron, Pret,  others,    I have read the posts on this  subject with great
>  interest.   My following comments come from being a  student of
> surgical history  and from having been in many middle east countries,
> to include Iraq and  Baghdad Medical City (associated with the
> University of  Baghdad Medical School)  in  1979.   I have many close
> medical and  surgical friends throughout the Middle  East from Turkey
> through Egypt to  Azerbaijan to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia  and on
> through the Emirates.
>
> First.   The United States does not have a monopoly on good  doctors !
> We  have had an infrastructure which allows  us to have  equipment,
> structure,  sutures, personnel, and support.    Many  other countries
> also have these amenities  along with visionary physicians and
> education, often at much less cost due  to less regulation, liability,
> overhead,  and administrative costs.
>
> Second.   Many of the fantastically talented doctors in the  United
> States  come from the many countries of the Middle East, including Iraq,
>  Palestine,  Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iran and many  more.
>   The countries of  the Indian sub continent have also supplied  the
> United States with many of our  finest physicians.   Physicians  from
> those countries are also leaders in  returning high quality medicine and
>  other leadership to their parent countries.
>  Some of the most  technically adept and insightful teachers and medical
>
> leaders in Houston are  from the Middle East, including Iraq, some
> having come to  Houston before the  Bath party was formed.   Many of
> them have had families  that died or  were tortured under that regime.
>
> Third.   Historically, many of the worlds greatest physicians  were from
> the  Middle East, including leadership in surgical instruments, public
> health,  ophthalmology, mathematics, and many other areas of science.
> A description of  circulation, including the importance of the pulmonary
> circuit  was described  by a Middle East physician almost 100 years
> BEFORE Harvey, but was  lost until  early in the last century, and still
> has not received the   credit for the  importance of its description.
>
> Fourth.   The physicians, especially surgeons of the world are  very
> similar  in our technical and thinking ability.   Some have access  to
> later discussion  of new knowledge and have better infrastructure.    We
> also have similar  thoughts about the dignity of mankind and respect for
> good  health.   That is our  creed and dedication.
>
> One only has to go to a medical conference in another country to
> appreciate   the native ability and intellect potential of our
> colleagues.     We all  continue to hungry for new knowledge and a
> desire to apply it to our  patients.    We all are victims of our former
> training and teachers and  without  communications, such as here on this
> list server etc, we all would  remain treating  patients with past
> knowledge.    Remember it was  not until the 1990s, that we  re-stumbled
> upon the concepts of damage control,  permissive hypotension,  planned
> reoperation, etc. etc.
>
> May each today find reflection in the many things that we have to be
> thankful for.
>
> k
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