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What brings you to my department? This young man, William Heath, he is my patient. I...

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[Dr Guttmann and Dr Cowan are arguing over whether a spinal patient should have an operation that could damage his spine] Dr. Cowan: What brings you to my department? Dr. Ludwig Guttmann: This young man, William Heath, he is my patient. Dr. Cowan: I operate tomorrow. Unstable fracture of the ninth vertibrae. Dr. Ludwig Guttmann: [looking at X-rays] No! I think not. Ah, my apologies. Yes, he *does* have a fracture, you are right. And yes, for all anyone knows, it *may* be unstable. But, no, you are not going to operate on him. We don't know yet how much movement may be restored. Dr. Cowan: None. Dr. Ludwig Guttmann: And with the operation, you are *guaranteeing* this. [they continue the discussion in General Blake's office] Dr. Cowan: The Army consultant sent Heath here expressly for this operation. Dr. Ludwig Guttmann: He sent him to my ward. Dr. Cowan: Actually he sent him to *me*. Dr. Ludwig Guttmann: But now I'm here so I can take over. From today, all spinal patients are my responsibility. Dr. Cowan: I gather that you haven't touched a patient for years. Dr. Ludwig Guttmann: I haven't been *allowed* to. General Blake: Dr Guttmann has specialised in spinal patients all his life. Dr. Cowan: Yes, in Germany. Dr. Ludwig Guttmann: The spinal cord is the same for Wilhelm or William, Henry or Heinrich. There are pioneering treatments. Dr. Cowan: Experimental. Dr. Ludwig Guttmann: No, new but already proven. Munro is doing great work in Boston. Dr. Cowan: America? Say no more. I am doing what I consider to be the best for this mortally wounded young man. Dr. Cowan: He has *not* been mortally wounded. Dr. Cowan: His life expectancy is what? Six months? Dr. Ludwig Guttmann: That is why I am here. Too many cripples in the last war. Too many men dying young. Too many wounded men made helpless by medical neglect. Too many widows. That is why I am here.


Transcript

Let's see if we also have kidney stones. I'll put him on the list. What list? The X-ray list. We don't have a machine on the ward? Neil: He's a laugh, ain't he? There's a war on, Doctor, and we're an embarrassment. Bowen: Lucky they give us beds. Edwards: We all have to do without. And some have to do without more than others? I think not. Carr: I'm gonna go and see Matron, ask for a transfer. Edwards: You'll be lucky. Who'll they get in your place? Especially now he's in charge of the circus. I'd rather do factory work. You know, I was told that this was proper nursing, not pee and bedsores all day long. Where's Private Heath? Taken him down to surgical, Doctor. -What? -Spinal op tomorrow. Mr. Cowan likes them on his ward the day before. He's not having an operation. Yes. To stabilize his spine. Why? Where is it going, the spine? It has taken legs? Bowen: Hey, boys, wake up. Fireworks. Gibberish! Edwards: I'm only telling you what I was told. Heh heh heh. [Patients jeering] Uppity. Mr. Cowan's the one to take him down a peg or two. Oh, yes. Dr. Guttmann, how do you do? Good to meet you. Mr. Cowan, ditto. And what brings you to my department? This young man William Heath, he is my patient. I operate tomorrow. Unstable fracture of the ninth vertebrae. No, I think not. Ah, my apologies. Yes, he does have a fracture of his vertebrae. You are right, and, yes, for all anyone knows, it may be unstable, but no, you are not going to operate on him. We don't know yet how much movement may be restored. None. With your operation, you are guaranteeing this. The army consultant sent Heath here expressly for this operation. Sent him to my ward. Actually, he sent him to me. Guttmann: But now I am here, so I can take over. From today, all spinal patients are my responsibility. I gather that you haven't touched a patient for years. I haven't been allowed to. Dr. Guttmann has specialized in spinal patients all his life. Yes, in Germany. The spinal cord is the same for Wilhelm or William, Henry or Heinrich. There are pioneering treatments. -Experimental. -No, new, but already proven. Monroe is doing great work in Boston. America? Say no more. I'm doing what I consider to be the best for this mortally wounded young man. He has not been mortally wounded. His life expectancy is what, six months? Guttmann: That is why I am here. Too many cripples in the last war. Too many young men dying young. Too many wounded men made helpless by medical neglect. Too many widows. That is why I am here. Didn't last very long, now, did he? Old Himmel. Maybe he's been sacked. That mean I get my little bit of gloop after all? We'll have to see, won't we? I could do with a bit now. Guttmann: Good, good! What is it we say? Upwards and upwards. Ah, look, William. Just in time. ♪ We are the Ovaltineys, little girls and boys ♪ ♪ Make your requests, we'll not refuse you ♪ ♪ We are here just to amuse you ♪ ♪ Would you like a song or story? ♪ ♪ Will you share our joys? ♪ ♪ At games and sports we're more than keen ♪ ♪ No merrier children could be seen ♪ ♪ Because we all drink Ovaltine ♪ ♪ We're happy girls and boys ♪ [Men laughing] ♪ Ovaltine ♪ Eight o'clock, ladies. Time to go home. -We have to do handover. -No need. Tonight, we only have the one orderly, so I will stay. We always have the one orderly. Until now. There's nothing for two men to do all night. They will be busy, Sister, this I promise, and one man alone cannot turn all these patients. But they'll be asleep. They'll learn to sleep through it.

Clip duration: 258 seconds
Views: 240
Timestamp in movie: 00h 00m 00s
Uploaded: 13 December, 2020
Genres: biography, drama, history, war
Summary: In 1943, a refugee doctor from Nazi Germany uses new methods to rehabilitate those with spinal injuries in Great Britain. Based on actual events.


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