This paper is a discussion of the film Patch Adams, directed by Tom Shadyac, and the concept of humor in medicine. This movie, based on a true story, tells about an unconventional medical student who believes that a substantial degree of suffering can be relieved through laughter. Research supports this idea, although many in the medical profession continue to believe that being an effective stand-up comedian is not a requirement for being an effective health care provider.
Patch Adams is the story of Hunter "Patch" Adams, played by Robin Williams. While seeking help for his suicidal depression in a mental hospital, Adams discovers that his compassion, empathy, and off-the-wall way of looking at life enable him to break through the defenses of some of the other patients. He leaves the institution and enters medical school, determined to use his gifts to help others.
Although he is a brilliant student, Adams finds medical school to be a disappointment. Professors emphasize the need to maintain distance from patients in order to develop the respect they feel is owed to doctors. Worse, students can have no contact with actual patients until the third year. Adams finds this unacceptable, and he begins visiting the wards on his own, entertaining patients with a series of comic antics and listening to their stories.
This brings him in direct conflict with Dean Walcott, a hard-nosed bureaucrat who is the school's most fervent believer in the sanctity of the medical profession. Walcott repeatedly tries to have Adams thrown out, but the rebellious student triumphs in the end, managing to graduate with honors and open a free clinic that continues to thrive.
Adams' methods, while unorthodox, have been proven effective. James Rotton and Mark Shats (1996, October 16) report on the results of a field experiment they conducted that tested the impact of exposure to humor on postsurgical patients. Those who heard jokes or were...