Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site aecom.UUCP Path: utzoo!decvax!mcnc!philabs!aecom!werner From: werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner) Newsgroups: net.med Subject: Norman Cousins (TIME) Message-ID: <1790@aecom.UUCP> Date: Thu, 11-Jul-85 01:42:26 EDT Article-I.D.: aecom.1790 Posted: Thu Jul 11 01:42:26 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 11-Jul-85 16:26:57 EDT Distribution: na Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Med., NY Lines: 34 Saw this letter to the editor in TIME. It concerns a story in the June 24 issue concerning a study in the New England Journal of Medicine that concluded in Cancer, the basic biology of disease determines the course, independent of patient attitude. The article contained some discussion of Norman Cousins, as well as some quotes and a photo. TIME says I cured myself of spinal arthritis by "adopting a healthy mental attitude, laughing a lot and taking Vitamin C." Incomplete. TIME should have added that I give primary credit to my physician. He encouraged me to believe that I was a respected partner in the program of recovery, and he recognized the importance of the patient's own psychological resources. Nothing was done that did not have his full support. I agree that attitudes are no substitute for competent medical attention, but confidence in oneself and in the doctor can create an environment in which medical science can do its best. I doubt that there is a physician in the country who minimizes the importance of the will to live in patients being treated for life- threatening illness. Serious disease requires a full mobilization of resources, including those that medical science offers and those of the patient's own healing system. signed: Norman Cousins School of Medicine, UCLA Los Angeles. [I know that I couldn't have said it any better myself] -- Craig Werner !philabs!aecom!werner "The world is just a straight man for you sometimes"