News Item: Iraq's Doctors

[Ronald Gross]

Absolutely.  

>>> <hbutler at pol.net> 11/23/2006 12:09 PM >>>
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
> --
> trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG
> To change your settings or unsubscribe visit:
> http://www.trauma.org/traumalist.html 



--
trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG
To change your settings or unsubscribe visit:
http://www.trauma.org/traumalist.html

Confidentiality Notice

This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of
the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential or proprietary
information which is legally privileged.  Any unauthorized review, use,
disclosure, or distribution is prohibited.  If you are not the intended
recipient, please promptly contact the sender by reply e-mail and
destroy all copies of the original message.