John had contacted Dr Swank when he learned that swank was about to retire. John had known and respected Dr roy swank for long time, and he offered to take over the swank multiple clerosis program and merge it with his health clinic at
St Helena hospital , preserving it in honor of Dr Swank . Dr swank agreed , much to John's excitement. As john said, There
were four reasons that this would be a perfect fit for St helena's
- It fit in witht he philosophy of the adventists : dietary treatment of disease
- They would be helping people who desperately needed their help
- It woulld double their patient census, helping to grow the program
- It would cost almost nothing
In thinking back on it , John said," could you think of any reason not to do this ? It was obvious!" So he took
the proposal to the head of his department . After listening, she said that she didnt think the hospital wanted to do this. She said, " well, i dont think we really want to introduce any new program right now." John ,
dumbfounded , asked her, " please tell me why. what does it mean to be a hospital ? why are we here? I thought we were here to take care of
the sick people"
Her response was a doozy : " well, you know we are , but you know, MS patients are not really desirable patients. You told me yourself that most
neurologists dont like to take care of MS patients. " John could not believe what he had just heard . In a very tense moment , he said:
Wait a minute, I'm a doctor. This is a hospital, as fas as i know out job is to relieve the suffering of the sick . These are sick people just because other doctors cant help them in their suffering doesnt mean that we cant. Here's the evidence that says we can . I have an effective treatment for peopple
who need my care and this is a hospital . Will you explain to me why we dont want to take care of those kinds of patients?
He continued :
I want to talk to the head of hospital . I want to explain to her why i need this program and why the hospital needs this program and why the patients need this program , i want you to get me an appointment .
Ultimately , Though , the head of the hospital proved to be just as difficult. John reflected on the situation with his wife . He was supposed to renew his contract with the hospital in a couple of weeks, and he decided not to do it. He left on cordial terms and to this day he does not hold personal grudges. He just explains it by saying that their directions in life
were different . John would prefer to remember St helena for what it was. a good home to him for sisteen years, but a place nonetheless that was " just into the whole drug money thing."
Now John runs a highly successful "lifestyle medicine" program with his family help, write a popular nesletter that he makes freely available (
drmcdougall.com: Home ) .......