Well it is late Sunday afternoon and I have just finished part of my Sunday ritual - The Sunday New York Times. My attention was naturally drawn to the New York Times Magazine for this week. I was particularly drawn to the article entitled The Writing Cure by Melanie Thernstrom on page 42. This is an article which deals with the topic Narrative Medicine. I admit to not being able to judge if this is a balanced and fair article, but it seems to be. Certainly, it should provide the lay reader and physicians who are neophytes in regards to Narrative Medicine a good introduction. I suppose in many ways what I am setting out to do is utilize this blog to engage in a modified form of narrative medicine about Surgery and to invite others to participate. Certainly would like to hear from those interested in Narrative Medicine!! I certainly hope my college Professor who taught me courses in both creative writing and the modern novel since 1914 is not reading this blog on a computer somewhere in the hereafter. I must say that I am now destined to embark on expanding my horizons in the world of Narrative Medicine. Guess I will be doing some searches and getting some journal articles. Naturally, I found one of those quotes which triggered my " I disagree" response. It was from Jerome Groopman who is quoted as follows: "It's not only students but also physicians who find the structure of contemporary hospital life unsatisfying." and as follows: "They're all looking for more meaningful relationships." Some of you more astute readers may ask " How can you disagree with someting so abstract and poorly defined as 'the structure of contemporary hospital life'? Well, the structure of contemporary hospital life is what I know best. Surgeons who do major operations are required to be immersed in the hospital life. A well equipped and staffed OR is necessary for surgery. Trauma surgeons at a Level One regional trauma center are virtually immersed in contemporary hospital life. Surprisingly, this is where the great rewards are found for myself and others. To further develop the questioning of Groopman's assumptions, we must only guess at what could be 'more meaningful' ? Naturally, from a syntax point of view, since he has to use an adverbial description - he must concede that the relationships of contemporary hospital life are meaningful, just that some are seeking the ever elusive "more". Greener grass has always been prized. I think I will stop at this point and have a cup of tea. JTE.