美国国家医生节（National Doctor's Day) 来历

美国国家医生节（National Doctor's Day) 来历

 

今天是3月30日，也是美国国家医生节（National Doctor's Day)。这一节日其实是与一位叫 Dr. Crawford Williamson Long (朗医生， D. Long, November 1, 1815 – June 16, 1878) 医生有关。他曾是美国外科医生及药学家。

 

 

1842年3月30日，美国乔治亚州（Georgia）的 Dr.  Long 在该州的叫Jefferson的地方，为一位年轻患者摘除颈部肿块手术中成功实施了第一例乙醚全麻。从此需要手术的病人告别了因为疼痛而导致的恐惧。Dr. Charles Almond 的妻子Eudora Brown Almond 为了纪念这一成功，在乔治亚州推荐以3月30日作为庆祝日，第一个当地 (Winder, Georgia) 医生节是1933年3月30日首次庆祝的，当时庆祝是给医生及医生家属送贺卡及鲜花，以后便在该州延续使用下来。在接下数年里，Dr. Long 用麻醉又做了许多手术，包括产科手术。然而他却没有把这些原创写成论文发表。

 

他的工作直到1848年才被人们报道。曾经一段时间里人们忘记了 Dr. Long 所做的这一史无前例的杰作。

 

其间，在1846年10月16日，莫顿医生（Morton）在麻省总医院施行的乙醚麻醉却是世界首位在新闻媒体前公开施行乙醚麻醉的另一位美国麻醉医生，人们误认为莫顿是首创者，且在他的墓碑上写道：“在他以前，手术是一种极大的痛苦；因为他，手术的疼痛被攻克；从他以后，科学战胜了疼痛”。以致于在很多教科书里，都是将Morton作为现代麻醉学的开端。

 

后来有人记起了真正第一位做麻醉手术的 Dr. Long，那还是1879年6月18日，当时国家全科医生协会（National Eclectic Medical Association) 正式宣布Dr. Long 是第一位麻醉发现者。在美国这个尊重发明及专利的国家，在确认 Dr. Long 的确是第一位乙醚麻醉的施行人后，终于给 Dr.Long 拨乱反正了。并为他发行了一枚纪念邮票，随后世界各地都有他的塑像，油画，纪念碑。

 

 

后来他的家乡乔治亚州又向国会提交议案，建议将他施行乙醚麻醉的这一天定为美国国家医生节。

 

经国会参众两院通过后，由美国总统布什于1991年签署总统令，每年3月30日这一天正式成为美国的国家医生节（National Doctor’s Day）。

 

今年的医生节，我们医院为医生提供免费早餐及午餐以示祝贺。

 

附：布什总统签署关于医生节的文件。

Origin of National Doctors' Day George Bush Proclamation 6253 - National Doctors Day, 1991 February 21 1991 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation by President George Bush 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. GEORGE BUSH Citation: John T. Woolley and Gerhard Peters,The American Presidency Project [online]. Santa Barbara, CA: University of California (hosted), Gerhard Peters (database). Available from World Wide Web: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=47267.