Slipshod Diagnostic Medical Practices
Assailed in M. L. Gross' The Doctors'
Martin L. Gross, whose earlier
work analyzing psychological test-
ing, "The Brain Watchers," was a
sensation in 1962, believes that
now it is patently clear that "by
and large the contemporary Ameri-
can physician is not sufficiently
equipped — scientifically, intellec-
tually or humanely—for the chal-
lenges now being presented to
him."
He makes these assertions in
"The Doctors," a study of the
American physician and the prac-
tice of medicine, publishedby Ran-
dom House.
Gross maintains: "Some physi-
cians are not bright enough; some
do not give enough time or con-
cern to the art; others do not have
sufficient experience to have seen
a breadth of disease; some diagnose
everything to relate to their parti-
cular medical interests; others in-
sist on diagnosing cases of `this
year's' ailment — whether it is
hepatitis, mononucleosis or the
Asian flu. The lack of professional
supervision of what goes on in the
sacrosanct enclave of a private
medical office is another contribut-
ing factor, as is the frequent ab-
sence of strict and careful diagnos-
tic methodology. The doctor often
diagnoses habit or prejudice,
and in certain burgeoning prac-
tices, economic factors can dictate
what the doctor does or does not
do medically."
In his study of various
methods, or practices that have
been tested and of experts' view
on major ailments, Gross points
out in one instance: "The im-
portance of accuracy in X-ray
reading may rise geometrically
as new roentgen and other radio-
; logy-like techniques are develop-
ed. Mammography, a new X-ray
method used to film the female
breast, may—says Dr. J. Ger-
shon-Cohen, chief of radiology
at the Albert Einstein College
of Medicine — greatly increase
the salvage rate of breast cancer
victims by early diagnosis. Using
radioisotopes that target the dis-
ease site, some radiologists are
now practicing nuclear medicine
by taking scintillation-scan 'pie-
tures' of such inaccessible areas
as the liver and the brain. Ther-
mography is another potential
diagnostic boom related to radio-
logy. Instead of X-rays, how-
ever, still-experimental thermo-
graphy uses infrared omissions
_
from the body, creating a 'heat
photograph' in which inflamed
areas show up differently from
normal issue. In all of these tech-
niques, physician and patient
understanding of the fallibility
of doctor observation makes ac-
curate diagnosis more probable?'
Thus, "The Doctors" is not all
criticism: it searches for positive
roads, makes suggestions, and its
observations are along a road to-
wards improvement of health-
giving techniques.
In exposing fallacies, the doctor
is viewed as a scientist, surgical
practices are reviewed, life and
death in hospitals are analyzed and
human experimentation is con-
demned.
Referring to the Nazi Nuremberg
rules, Gross declares that the
"codes precipitated by Nazi beasts
imbued with racism" are the work
of "the scientist who is convinced
that his detached efficiency in-
evitably operates for mankind's
good. This new `Uebermensch'
feels qualified to trifle with life
and destiny as long as he ascer-
tains that it is for mankind's over-
all benefit."
His proposals are for "the choos-
ing and training of young physi-
cians of higher motivation." He
calls for higher philosophical goals,
for idealized young professionals.
He declares:
"Society can (and should) help
pay for medicine with a stroke of
the Presidential pen. The search
for excellence in the doctor, how-
ever, is considerably more trying.
The primary requirement for
change is to alter the 'man' within
this contemporary physician. The
traditional healer was constantly
aware of his role as sage and com-
forter, whether as an Indian sha-
man with buffalo horn and incan-
Friday, October 28, 1966-21
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
He advocates concentration on
clinical medicine, suggests con-
tinuous study by physicians, their
being required to take periodic
exams and establishment of a na-
tional medical coordinating body.
tation or as an early-20th Century
American physician exhibiting a
relatively superior education and
comforting demeanor, and often
ministering closely at the patient's
bedside, much as did the clergy."
You know this man
by his long friendship
by the good things he does
What Is Power?
By DR. JACOB KLATZKIN
Some say: Power is the only
reality. Hence, all moral laws that
are intended for the protection of
the weak create unreal and imagi-
nary values.
However, if we examine the
character of dominant power, we
discover that often it is itself a
mythical thing, owing its existence
to imagination. In essence, it is a
psychological phenomenon; all the
reality it has is illusory in charac-
. ter.
We see one .per;'son ruling a peo-
ple, dictating to an entire nation.
Multitudes of human beings serve
him with fear. Whom do they fear?
In actual power the slaves are im-
measurably superior to their mas-
ter. But each slave sees himself
as an individual against his fellow-
slaves. If they are impelled to re-
bel, they are afraid of each other.
'The Shy One': Good
Sometimes one of them does re-
bel; then his fellows are forced
Immigrant Narrative to
punish that one, though in their
As a native of Oregon, Dorothy hearts they wish or scheme to do
Nathan writes with understanding as he had done.
about the background of her in-
It .is not the ruler whom they
teresting story, "The Shy One," fear, but the host of slaves who do
As
by
Random
House.
published
his bidding. In other words, they
the title indicated, Dorothy, the
themselves. Their weakness
heroine in this tale, is shy. She fear
a fiction, an error, a slave's
is afraid to speak up. And she is
error.
has some fears and prejudices.
The ruler derives his power
parents
are
Russian
Jews.
Her
the fact that he adds the
They came to this country, became from
of others to his own. He
loyal citizens and welcomed here power
Dorothy's grandmother and uncle, does this t h r o u g h obliterating
both of whom had to undergo pri- from the consciousness of his
slaves the fact of their common
vations to reach these shores.
They came to the small city in interests. The multitude sees itself
Oregon and Dorothy's Uncle Max as individuals opposed to each oth-
was sent to school and was placed er. Each enslaved creature regards
in his niece's classroom. He was himself as enslaved by the com-
much older and a problem arose. munity of his fellow-slaves. It is
through this common error, the
a mbe d
Dosr000thny was ashamed
eCause of the error of many, that the power of
wisdom of one of the teachers, one is upheld.
The many come back into their
Max was given private lessons.
As the story developed, he made proper power the moment they see
progress. There was conciliation through this secret of mutual fear.
and when Dorothy gave a recital The abolition of error in the hearts
iii school, as a surprise Max came of slaves marks the end of the fic-
titious power of tyranny.
in and danced a Russian dance.
The emancipation of slaves is,
Some Russian words were used.
The kazatzka dance is introduced. first of all, their liberation from
There is joy in this narration this small error. All great revolu-
about a pre-war experience. Mrs. tions are really the correction of
Nathan, who writes well, might an error, a trifling error in the
have introduced an interesting minds of the enslaved.
Jewish angle of observance of the
Conduct
Sabbath, etc., but the family de-
Have more than thou showest,
scribed here is introuced merely
Speak less than thou knowest,
as the Russian-Jewish group that
Lend less than thou owest,
has fitted in well into the Ameri-
Learn more than thou trowest,
can environment. Well told, "The
Set less than thou throwest.
Shy One" is an ideal story for
--Shakespeare
young teen-agers.
HELP ELECT
G. MENNEN
DEMOCRAT/FOR U.S. SENATOR
You can trust him
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