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Global Veterinary Ethics Congress
COVID-19
This essay is not a prescription that will take away that fear but it is an essay of optimism and hope!
One of my favorite educators of the '80's and 90's was Dr. Leo Buscaglia. He saw life differently and tried to teach others that they can "change the world"!
Here is one of his famous quotations:
"The purpose of life is to help others, and if you can't help them, won't you at least not hurt them? I know that is a platitude, that is sentimental and can easily be attacked. But loving and caring is simple and we make it complex. Our own neuroses make it complex." Leo Buscaglia
Think about that quote and then reflect on the hoarding going on in supermarkets, drug stores, and dollar stores throughout this country.
People are acting aggressively to purchase every roll of toilet paper; disinfectant; and canned food they can HOARD in a room in their home and probably never have to use.
Cold medicines for the sick are depleted; masks for hospitals are not able to be purchased; and basic food items are in major shortage.
Dr. Buscaglia says-"if you cannot help others--please--won't you at least not hurt them".
As a profession, we have turned away from compassion and have centered on economics; new technology; and very expensive specialist intervention in the New Millennium.
We have to change! We must become the leaders in compassion to stop this terrible moment of fear from spreading.
The fear is as bad as the virus! The fear will not allow the sick and the elderly to have food and basic cleaning supplies in their homes.
The fear will not allow people to be helped with non-COVID 19 respiratory illness because OTC medicines are GONE!
Supermarkets have set up early shopping hours to allow seniors a time to be alone to shop and limit contact with others. Now we see adults-not seniors-- invading these senior hours to grab and hoard because the markets are not as busy at that time. Very sad.
So what can we do today? E-Mail a colleague with your suggestions on~~~ coping with COVID-19 in your practice~~~ that they may want to initiate; Skype a friend who may be alone; call a neighbor to see how they are doing; and most importantly use compassion in shopping.
We will get through this crisis!
Our hospitals will suffer economic hits of significance. We will have mortgages and loans deferred. We will have credit card payment penalties deferred. That is serious but it is ECONOMIC.
We will recover as a profession and be stronger than ever. To do this, we must begin our "journey of compassion" today. Dr. Buscaglia, if he were still with us, would say........yes--that is the answer!
Be safe and be well,
Don DeForge, VMD
Acting Chair of the Global Veterinary Ethics Congress
23March2020
