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||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Posted to Podiatry ONLINE Newsflash 7/14/2000 From: Samuel S. Mendicino, DPM I was fortunate to see the Dateline story about Dr. Wolf's heroic actions at a Montana accident scene. I felt that the story was very supportive and positive for Podiatry. I for one would like to thank Dr. Wolf for being a compassionate human being and would welcome his help if it were me or my family in a similar situation. You have my utmost respect! Samuel S. Mendicino, DPM PS: I have attached a letter I have forwarded to the local Montana Newspaper. I would encourage others to support Dr. Wolf in any way possible. Letter to the Editor Dear Mr. Burkhart: I have just read your article and was fortunate to have watched the Dateline story last night. I do not see the logic of the prosecution of this medical professional who did something that many would not. His act to provide care and to get involved when he could have driven by demonstrates the compassion of this individual and of the people of Montana. I can assure you that if it were me or may family, I would welcome a surgically trained podiatrist on the scene until another doctor (and Dr. Wolf is a doctor) with more training or experience in emergency medicine was available. Being involved in residency training for a podiatric surgical residency and fellowship I can tell you that our graduates receive training and are experienced to manage many medical emergencies and have surgical skills that would permit them to participate in an emergency situation. They are required to rotate through many of the medical specialties including emergency medicine, general/orthopedic surgery, internal medicine, pathology, radiology to name just a few. At issue is the policy of who should be in charge. If the EMTs (Which hold no medical degree and whose training is meant to stabilize patients) felt that improper care was being rendered then they should have had Dr. Wolf removed. I was an EMT during college and know this can and should be done. This would be the case whether a doctor at the scene was a MD, DO, DDS, or DPM. What if this were a dermatologist, ophthalmologist, or psychiatrist who had been in practice for many years? I do not question their credentials but their recent experience in emergency medicine. This would be individualized. I hope that the prosecuting attorney in this case sees the potential ramifications of his actions. If he were to succeed, then the only people that will stop in the future will be unlicensed, most likely nonmedical good Samaritans. Is that what we want? One final note, many people do not know the training and education of a surgical podiatrist. Today, this typically requires: 4 years of undergraduate education (College), 4 years of podiatric medical school with the same basic sciences as medical or dental school, and then a 2 or 3 year surgical residency program in a hospital. I would think that 10-11 years of education should allow for some respect and confidence. Sincerely, Samuel S. Mendicino, DPM ____________________________ |