Physician, Heal Thyself

“Moshe, I’ve been thinking a lot about that ancient Hebrew proverb, ‘Physician, heal thyself.'”

“Yup, I remember that proverb. In Latin it’s, Medice, cura te ipsum and Hippocrates gave that instruction to all aspiring physicians. It tells us that we should take care of our own problems before trying to fix those of others,” Mordechai said. Then he asked, “Why the hell are you thinking about that old proverb?”

“Well, recently I determined that most of the doctors I’m dealing with are Trump supporters. They’re Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish docs. They all seem to have fallen under his spell. When I look into their eyes, I see that brainwashed gaze. And in the old days, I’d write it off as their fear of socialized medicine or their loathing for paying higher taxes. But I don’t think that’s their problem. I don’t get it. Supposedly, they’re highly educated people. They have their diplomas hanging on their office walls to prove it. I read their diplomas and wonder, ‘Didn’t they read Dr. Scott Peck’s book, People of the Lie when they attended medical school?’ If they had they wouldn’t play Fox News in their waiting rooms or openly tell their patients that they’re voting for the ganev.

Moshe took a deep breath and continued, “But they seem so deaf and dumb on this Trump issue. Haven’t they read the psychiatric reports on that bastard’s narcissistic behavior? How can they pretend that he’s not meshuga? Haven’t they seen with their own eyes and heard with their own ears that old man’s cognitive decline? Only a meshuga would disgrace Arlington Cemetery? Well, my docs despicable behavior and that old Hebrew proverb made me wonder, what percentage of doctors in Germany joined the Nazi Party?”

“Well, that’s a question that never crossed my mind.”

” Mordechai, you might find this number interesting. During the Weimar Republic, more than half of all German doctors, obviously excluding the Jewish ones, became early joiners of the Nazi Party, surpassing the party enrollment by all other professions.

“You’re telling me that doctors had a higher percentage of Nazi membership than lawyers, engineers and accountants.”

“Yup.”

“Wow, the German dokters fell head over heels for Adolf and his Jew-hating message. And now many American docs have fallen head over heels for Herr Trump. This leads us to another ancient Hebrew proverb.”

“Which one?” Moshe asked.

“The one that says history has a way of repeating itself.”

Moshe laughed and asked, “Mordechai, do you think I should change physicians?”

Mordechai paused for dramatic effect, then looked into Moshe’s eyes, and said, “Vell, your doctors seem to be in need of shrinks. They’re a bissel sick in their keppies. They can’t even diagnose their own problems. So it kinda makes sense that until they learn to heal themselves, you shouldn’t be taking their medical advice.”

Moshe nodded his head in agreement.