Patch Adams

As I watched "Patch Adams," one question kept recurring in my head: Would anyone really want this ridiculous clown to be his or her doctor? The problem with this film is that it creates a caricature of the real Hunter Adams, who is, in reality, much more levelheaded. As any comedy starring Robin Williams, "Patch Adams" unfolds as yet another vehicle for him to be manic on camera.

One of the most glaring annoyances is the origin story of Hunter Adams. After feeling depressed and suicidal, Adams voluntarily checked into a psychiatric hospital. After helping a schizophrenic roommate overcome his debilitating fear of squirrels, Adams inexplicably decides that he wants to be a physician so he could "connect with" and "help" his fellow human beings. The problem is that his assertions are so general and vague that it has no causality to pursuing medicine. There are plenty of ways one could connect with and help others; being a doctor is only one option. 

The film never delves into, nor does it care, about why Adams choose to be a doctor when he is perfectly suited to be a motivational speaker, a therapist, or even a clown. Throughout the film, Adams NEVER uses science or medicine to assist anyone. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if Adams wanted to lift people's spirits with rubber noses, pools of fettuccine, or balloon animals,  he could have done so without going to medical school for six years and incurring a copious amount of debt. Again, Adams does not use any medical device or knowledge in the film. As a medical student, I can safely say that doctors use science, not stand up comedy, to cure patients of serious ailments. 

Perhaps the most telling storyline of "Patch Adams" is when his pseudo girlfriend is killed by a deranged patient who she was trying to help at the behest of Adams and his philosophy. While the story seems to demonstrate that there is a limit to the inherent goodness of human beings, I read it a bit differently. In my view, it encapsulates the larger problem of the film and its view of medicine: when you are put in a position of great responsibility and you act like a clown in the face of respected medicine, you can kill people. So, in closing, when choosing a physician, don't pick the guy wearing a clown nose; pick the one wearing a battle ready stethoscope and current articles in his or her pockets.