Buckley, Francis C.

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The Linacre QuarterlyVolume 31 | Number 2 Article 13May 1964Opportunities ExistFrancis C. BuckleyFollow this and additional works at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/lnqRecommended CitationBuckley, Francis C. (1964) "Opportunities Exist," The Linacre Quarterly: Vol. 31 : No. 2 , Article 13.Available at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/lnq/vol31/iss2/13Opportunities Exist One characteristic of the physician is alertness. He must be aware his surroundings. For the Catholic physician it is not enough to be aware and 1lert in medical matters alone. Every patient, be he stranger smitten on the hi,? .way or old loyal "chronic," lives deeper than the hurt he presents to his doct, ::. If he is bleeding and barely conscious from an accident, he is thinking c his possible imminent demise. If he has ulcers or headaches he describes his 1 1ysi­cal discomforts, but hides his spiritual dilemmas. All of this is old hat to the physician, and he has read many book� and articles on psychosomatic medicine. The point not to miss is the physi. ian's great capability for good if the patient's spiritual life is explored. This I not for routine practice, of course, but opportunities exist. The temptation is te, stick to medicine and leave religion to the clergy. Of the hundreds who spend a little time in mental hospitals, it is arr zing to learn how many do not go to Mass on Sundays. It may not be possil:- le to know if missing Mass is the consequence of mental illness or vice versa. J; any case it can't hurt the patient to be exhorted to do his best. A few words from the physician may make religion a new way of life for the careless. This and related types of advice, such as marriage counselling, can take ime, but where else can time more properly be spent? If no good is accompl shed directly for the patient, or if the patient refuses to be helped, at least the phy­sician in trying steps another rung higher on his ladder. Who else has such opportunities for good? There was once a woman with migraine. It took several office visits t help at all but in time there was some definite relief. Skin testing yielded some clues and improvement followed the avoidance of certain foods. The visits gave opportunity to dig a little deeper into her married life. It was, unfortun 1tely, appalling. At the physician's instigation an organized campaign was starkd to correct it. After several years of collaboration with clergy and attorney<s, she PEANUTS@ severed her unhappy domestic ties. Not only did the migraine disappear but the patient returned to the Sacraments. She is now a daily communicant in the Third Order. For such a reward what physician can afford to mind his own business? The chronic alcoholic, the adolescent member of a warring gang, the un­employed, the elderly, and the mentally retarded can be consoled, guided, and exhorted to greater spiritual effort if some physician will only dig a little deeper than the "Chief Complaint." Opportunities for good lie all about him. Francis C. Buckley, M.D. Foxboro, Mass.; member, Guild of St. Luke of Boston ADVICE TO AUTHORS Articles on topics of potential interest to the Catholic physician as a Catholic and as a physician are earnestly solicited. A goodly portion of THE LINACRE QUARTERLY readers are not members of the medical profession but are engaged in allied health fields, teach moral theology, or serve in hospitals, and material for their benefit would also be welcome. The subject matter may be predominantly philosophical, religious, or medico-moral in nature. Material should be typewritten, double-spaced, with good margins and on one side of the paper only. Manuscripts (original and one copy) should be submitted to the Editorial Office of THE LINACRE QUARTERLY, 1438 South Grand Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri, 63104. One additional copy should be retained by the author. Full editorial privileges are reserved.. References if used should appear at the end of the article and should conform to the usage of the Index Medicus. (This format is that employed in the Abstract Section of THE LINACRE QUARTERLY.) A brief but' pertinent curriculum vitae of the author(s) should accompany the manuscript. The Thomas Linacre Award is made annually to the author(s) of the original article adjudged to be the- best to appear in THE LINACRE QuARnRLY during each calendar year. __________ .------------- By Charles M. Schulz 74 SOME N16HT vou'RE GOIN! SO �SHOULD I WORR<t'? 601D BED. AND WHEN '(CIJ1r-' ----..----� UPTHE NEXT MORN!NG,Til� BE NO Pl.t:CE FOR YOU TO 61/f V � (LL JUGT 60 BACK TO BED! (Reprlnt&d by permission of The Boston Herold..:-Copyright, 1961, by United Feature Syndicate, Inc.} LINACRE QUARTERLY M,w, 1964 75 

Opportunities Exist

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