RT Journal
A1 Stone DB
T1 Patients, physicians and illness: Sourcebook in behavioral science and medicine.
JF A.M.A. Archives of Internal Medicine
JO A.M.A. Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 1959
FD September 1
VO 104
IS 3
SP 512
OP 512
DO 10.1001/archinte.1959.00270090166033
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1959.00270090166033
AB It would be absurd to blame patients for dying, yet we blame students for failing. Why do they fail? Examine the question for a few unprejudiced moments. I suppose that if one can slough prejudice, one should accept the premise that most medical students are keen, hard working, and not unintelligent. If not, we should change our selection committees. If the premise is valid, we should examine medical education ruthlessly. Simply to disparage failure is facile, superficial and—in education—perhaps defensive, for, as Colton wrote, "Examinations are formidable even to the best prepared, for the greatest fool may ask more than the wisest man can answer." Some students—and physicians—who fail are dull or idle. How many? Were they dull when they gained admission to medical school? If not, why have they changed? We dismiss our failures and punish our criminals, processes which are both practical and reassuring to us all. But