you've been accused of practicing
medicine without a license it's a very
grave charge son are you aware that it's
unlawful to practice medicine without a
medical license yes sir I am
are you aware that running a medical
clinic without the proper licensing can
place both you and the public in a great
deal of danger is a home clinic sir if
you are admitting patients and treating
them physical location is irrelevant yes
sir you define treatment for me and
treatment would be defined as the care
of a patient seeking medical attention
have you been treating patients mr.
Adams so I lived with several people
that come and go as they please I offer
them whatever help I can mr. Adams have
you or have you not been treating
patients at your ranch everyone who
comes to the ranch is a patient yes
and every person who comes to the ranch
is also a doctor I'm sorry
every person who comes to the ranch is
in need of some form of physical or
mental health their patients but also
every person who comes to the ranch is
in charge of taking care of someone else
whether it's cooking for them cleaning
them or even a simple task is listening
that makes them doctors I use that term
broadly gentleman but he's not a doctor
someone who helps someone else when did
the term doctor get treated with such
reverence as oh right this way dr. Smith
or excuse me dr. Scholl's what wonderful
footpads or pardon me dr. Patterson but
your flatulence has no odor at 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 your door to
those in need I was in pain caring for
them listening to them applying a cold
cloth until a fever breaks if this is
practicing medicine if this is treating
a patient than I am guilty as charged
sir did you consider the ramifications
of your actions what if one of your
patients had died what's wrong with
death sir what are we so mortally afraid
of
well I can't retreat death with a
certain amount of humanity and dignity
and decency and god forbid maybe even
humor death is not the enemy and
gentlemen we're gonna fight a disease
let's fight one of the most terrible
diseases of all indifference now I've
sat near schools 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 want that in a
patient-doctor relationship
that's why I've listened to your
teachings 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 treat a
disease you win you lose you treat a
person I guarantee you you win no matter
what the outcome
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 will
give you no idea what kind of doctor you
will be mr. Adams please turn over on
the ward to get your humanity back start
your interviewing skills now start
talking to strangers talk to your
friends talk to wrong numbers talk to
everyone mr. Adams and cultivate
friendships with those amazing people
standing in the back of the room nurses
that could teach you they have been with
people every day they wade through blood
and shit they have a wealth of knowledge
to share with you and so do the
professors you respect the ones who are
not dead from the heart up share their
compassion let that be contagious Adams
I demand that you turn and address the
before re I want to be a doctor with all
my heart
I wanted to become a doctor so I could
serve others and because of that I've
lost everything but I've also gained
everything I've shared the lives of
patients and staff members at the
hospital
I've laughed with them I've cried with
them this is what I want to do with 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 seen
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 spirit 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
professional colleague passionate or you
can have me as an outspoken outsider
still adamant either way I'll probably
still be viewed as a thorn but I promise
you one thing I am a thorn that will not
go away is that all
I hope not sir we will adjourn briefly
you
