三月三十日美國醫生節的感想（多圖）

每年的3月30日是美國的國家醫生節，在歐美，人們通常在這一天給自己的醫生送上一枝紅色康乃馨，以表示對醫生的感謝。

美國醫生節源於紀念一位麻醉醫生。1842年3月30日美國Georgia州的麻醉醫生Crawford Long 為一位摘除頸部腫塊的患者成功實施了第一例乙醚全麻。他的妻子為了紀念這一成功，以3月30日作為慶祝日，後來便延續使用下來。美國的名醫成千上萬，為什麽會選Long醫生做第一例乙醚麻醉的日子來做醫生節呢？因為麻醉的發明，對促進人類健康發展、人類文明社會的進步具有劃時代的意義。

Morton是世界上首位在新聞媒體前公開施行乙醚麻醉的另一位美國麻醉醫生。他的墓碑上寫道：“在他以前，手術是一種極大的痛苦；因為他，手術的疼痛被攻克了；從他以後，科學戰勝了疼痛。” 這是何等高的評價啊！醫生節是醫生的驕傲，更是麻醉同行的驕傲。

美國為Long醫生發行了一枚紀念郵票，後由老布什總統於1991年簽署總統令，將這一天定為美國的國家醫生節。



老布什是一位不善言詞的政治家，但在這篇總統令中，他用了很多華麗的辭藻來歌頌醫生對人類社會的貢獻。他也可能是美國政治家中對醫生最尊重的一位。美國有兩家世界上最好的腫瘤醫院，一家在休斯頓，叫MD Anderson Cancer Center，另一家在紐約，叫Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center。而老布什是MD Anderson Cancer Center醫院的董事會成員，每當醫院董事開會，病人們便會有幸在電梯裏看見他了。。。



總統令的原文是：

Origin of National Doctors’ Day (George Bush, February 21, 1991)
 
More than the application of science and technology, medicine is a special calling, and those who have chosen this vocation in order to serve their fellowman understand the tremendous responsibility it entails. Referring to the work of physicians, Dr. Elmer Hess, a former president of the American Medical Association, once wrote: "There is no greater reward in our profession than the knowledge that God has entrusted us with the physical care of His people. The Almighty has reserved for Himself the power to create life, but He has assigned to a few of us the responsibility of keeping in good repair the bodies in which this life is sustained." Accordingly, reverence for human life and individual dignity is both the hallmark of a good physician and the key to truly beneficial advances in medicine.

The day-to-day work of healing conducted by physicians throughout the United States has been shaped, in large part, by great pioneers in medical research. Many of those pioneers have been Americans. Indeed, today we gratefully remember physicians such as Dr. Daniel Hale Williams and Dr. Charles Drew, who not only advanced their respective fields but also brought great honor and pride to their fellow Black Americans. We pay tribute to doctors such as Albert Sabin and Jonas Salk, whose vaccines for poliomyelitis helped to overcome one of the world’s most dread childhood diseases. We also recall the far-reaching humanitarian efforts of Americans such as Dr. Thomas Dooley, as well as the forward-looking labors of pioneers such as members of the National Institutes of Health, who are helping to lead the Nation’s fight against AIDS, cancer, and other life-threatening diseases. These and other celebrated American physicians have enabled mankind to make significant strides in the ongoing struggle against disease.

However, in addition to the doctors whose name we easily recognize, there are countless others who carry on the quite work of healing each day in communities throughout the United States — indeed, throughout the world. Common to the experience of each of them, from the specialist in research to the general practitioner, are hard work, stress, and sacrifice. All those Americans who serve as licensed physicians have engaged in years of study and training, often at great financial cost. Most endure long and unpredictable hours, and many must cope with the conflicting demands of work and family life.

As we recognize our Nation’s physicians for their leadership in the prevention and treatment of illness and injury, it is fitting that we pay special tribute to those who serve as members of the Armed Forces and Reserves and are now deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm. Whether they carry the tools of healing into the heat of battle or stand duty at medical facilities in the Persian Gulf and elsewhere, these dedicated physicians — along with thousands of nurses and other medical personnel — are ital to the success of our mission. We salute them for their courage and sacrifice, and we pray for their safety. We also pray for all those who come in need of their care.

In honor of America’s physicians, the Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 366 (Public Law 101-473), has designated March 30, 1991, as "National Doctors Day" and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this day.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim March 30, 1991, as National Doctors Day. I encourage all Americans to observe this day with appropriate programs and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of February, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fifteenth.

一般，醫生節那天的中午，醫生飯廳的菜明顯好於往常，而且，在牛排旁邊，有廚房的大師傅親自為醫生們切肉，並向醫生們祝賀節日快樂。

中國古代曾定農曆4月28日，即孫思邈的紀念日為“醫生節”，但目前中國220多萬人的醫師隊伍還沒有自己的節日。中國醫師以占世界衛生總支出1%的比例，為占世界22%的人口提供了基本醫療衛生服務，相當的辛苦，相當的不容易，是低投入高產出的典範。不過，中國醫師大可暫且把美國的醫生節拿過來當自己的節日過，中國現在慶祝的許多節日不都是拿來的嗎？象情人節，聖誕節，等等。

感覺中，大凡為某一人群設立一個節日時，要麽是弱勢群體，比如兒童節、婦女節、盲人節；要麽比較辛苦的人們，比如勞動節、母親節、護士節等。現如今，中國醫生越來越不好當了，似乎也該有個節。。。不管怎麽說，還是要提前祝全中國的醫生節日快樂！


Thank you to our doctors!  Because as long as people behave like this......