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Address at National Chang-Kung University Medical College at the 15TH Anniversary.

5. Respect the patient as a person, as having commonsense, though he may not have much education. Acknowledge that you do not know the answers to all his questions. An attitude of intellectual pride is a common weakness in doctors ("the doctor knows best," "the doctor will decide," "the patient does not need to know"). Rather we doctors should treat our patients in the spirit of humility.

6. Calmness, equanimity, is required in the face of unexpected events. Suppose your patient becomes suddenly worse-what should be done? The doctor must keep calm even in stressful circumstances. Most doctors have to try and learn it. It is a valuable quality.


     Lastly, my friend's letter says doctors should be "interested in other people." Interest in other people often is a social activity, but it may be a concern for the people with special needs; that is "humanitarianism." Webster's Dictionary defines humanitarianism as "having concern for, or helping to improve, the welfare and happiness of mankind."

     Here are some examples of humanitarian work in Taiwan:

1. During the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, there were many opium addicts. Professor Tu Tsung-Ming specially helped them. In 1900 there were 169,000 opium addicts (6.3% of the population). In 1942 there were 6000; these disappeared in 1945.
2. After the war, Dr. Hsieh Wei knew that there was much TB in the aboriginal people, so he built a special hospital and out-patient clinic for them in Pu Li and treated them himself. Dr. Hsieh also knew that the seacoast people in Changhua Hsien were poorly served medically, so in 1956, he started a clinic in Erh Lin specially for those people. He was overworked and was too tired that one day, on the way to his clinic in Erh Lin-he fell asleep at the wheel of his car and was killed. He gave his life for those people.
3. The Mennonite Hospital in Hualien was started in 1948 to give treatment to the aborigines in the mountains.
4. The Tzu Chi Hospital and Medical College were started to serve the needs of the people on the East Coast of Taiwan.


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