Evening star. [volume], February 04, 1962, Page 2, Image 122

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
Words To Live By
“Is There
Anything 4B|
Else
I Can Do For lon ?”
JQ JT I A 111 C l\/f n OUT OF MY 1 ,FE N ** 4: Dt ‘ A ' Gi>a “ a r°f <ssor College of Medicine,
eJOll.il. JyL U. g tatt University of lowa. His thoughtful article is thefourth in a new series in uiftuA This Week
readers share their experience. Next: “ Worry Is Worse Than Trouble,” by Nathaniel Benchley
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February 4,1962 The National Sunday Magazine Designed for Modem Reading
COVIRi Olympic gymnast Muriel Grossfeld, photo by Arthur Shay. 4: Punchbowl Ben G. Wright, President William I. Nichols
Happy Chinese New Year! 6: Sharpen Your Mind While You Read! 9: If Lincoln Were Euclid M. Covington Editor and Publisher
Alive Today. 11: Here’s How You Look In Statistics. 14: Anita Colby Tells You How Till S Week Chairman of the Board ed McCarthy, Managing Editor
To Be Your Age And Look Great. 19: Pair Os Gym Dandies. 21: Food Here’s Real John C. Sterling nelson cruppo, Art Director
Yorkshire Pudding. 22: Last Laugh A Case Os Tipsy Turban Honorary Chairman stew art beach. Asst, to the Editor
Circulation: 14,106,970
© I»4X Unltud Newipopen Magozlnu Corporation. 485 U«lngtcn Avanua, New York 17. New Yori. Thll Week » All right! relented hinder Intemotionol ond fan American Copyright Convention. Reproduction In whole or In port without
permiuion It prohibited). Nomet ond detcripttont of oil character! In fiction and lemi-flction article! In thlt magazine are wholly Imaginary. Any name which happen! to bo the tome at that of any penon fitting or dead It coincidental.
2
jA few weeks ago a young intern, after helping me
to perform a difficult examination upon a patient,
asked, “Now, is there anything else I can do for you,
Doctor?”
The feeling of sincere interest and concern in his
unexpected remark had a profound effect on me. It
made me think about the business of doctoring, where
the concepts of service, devotion, dedication, honesty
and loyalty to people who are in trouble should be
taken for granted. It appears, however, that over the
years some of these values have been worn thin; some
have actually been abandoned, and some have been
perverted in pursuit of the “fast buck” or that much
publicized abstraction, “status.”
Among every other variety of person as well as
doctors, I have sometimes observed a disturbing tend
ency to think first of “What is there in it for me?”
“Why become involved?” and “I have other more im
portant things to do.” As a result, performance tends
to become standardized and superior accomplish
ments are neither expected, demanded nor achieved.
I think that our traditional ideals have not been
completely lost but that they have simply been
crowded out of our lives by more “practical” motiva
tions. We are so busy and so concerned with our own
personal affairs that we often overlook the opportu
nity to serve and appear to subscribe to the “couldn’t
care less” creed. So we tend never to give more than
the occasion requires.
In order to use our abilities and talents to the
fullest degree and more nearly achieve fulfillment as
individuals and as a society, wouldn’t it be a good
idea to ask the question more often: "Now, is there
anything else that I can do for you?" And really mean it?
THIS WEEK Magazine / February 4,1962