It has finally happened. (I didn’t know who would be the first to fall, but it’s not shocking that it would be one of only two countries in the world named after a European monarch.) Last Friday, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) voted to prohibit their doctor members from smoking. If you are a doctor in the Philippines, you are no longer allowed to smoke. If you don’t stop, there will be penalties. And, citizens are encouraged to turn violators into the PMA.
According to Oscar Tinio, PMA president, “Physicians must be role models on matters of health…that is why it is highly inappropriate for physicians to be seen smoking.”
I am tempted to get into how the issue of how smoking has largely become one of class, (I’ll save it for another post), but will instead ask the PMA, in ten years, ‘How’s it working out?’
Jesus said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.’ The PMA thinks that what the Philippino people need are role models, not healers. One of the greatest attributes, I think, a doctor can have is empathy. This is true of pastors as well. I have heard tale after tale of the broken and contrite heart that has sat on a pastor’s couch and not only experienced a lack of connection with the pastor (from one sinner to another), but the pastor can only stare in dumb amazement at the confession that has just been made. ‘He who has been forgiven much, loves much.’
Who will be the physician to the physicians? Who will save them from their ‘body of death?’
My prediction: In 10 years, either every doctor will be smoking in the Philippines or there will be no doctors at all.
You can read it all here.
COMMENTS
5 responses to “You’re Next!”
Leave a Reply
I love it! Especially the Reverend in Rhythm.
…Or there will be late-night doctor smoking dens throughout the country.
Interesting news story, Andrew. Thanks.
By the way, do you really predict that in 10 years, either every doctor will be smoking in the Philippines or there will be no doctors at all?
Both seem like 1 out of a million shots to me.
The side comment on smoking and class is interesting, although I'm not sure it supports the thesis. I assume you are referring to the lower to lower middle class domain of the cigarette. This type of "class law" seems not to have the effect of "increasing the trespass" for those who do not want to be seen in that light. In other words, the "law of class" seems to be fairly effective in curbing certain behaviors in those who don't want to be seen exhibiting behaviors that are associated with a certain class ranking. People who see themselves as upper middle or higher don't go out and buy a pack of menthol cigarettes because they are told people of their station in life don't do such things. Cigars are, I guess, a different matter, but they also seem to indicate that in certain contexts "the law" can be effective in molding external behaviors. In fact, some people I have known actually started smoking them because of "class law" pressures. But I am so out of it class-wise that cigars may be relegated to the NASCAR circuit by now too. Maybe I am just so out of it generally that I am unaware that all the girls at boarding school are smoking what they think the tailer parks girls smoke, just to hack off their parents. I haven't spent much time at boarding school, so someone who has might speak to that…
…that should read "trailer park girls" i.e. non-Roma girls who reside in parked trailers 😉