Month: May 2025

Expanding the circle of sympathy: A call to action

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There is not a person on earth who chose his genome, or the country of his birth, or the political and economic conditions that prevailed at moments crucial to his progress.  (Sam Harris – neuroscientist / philosopher).

So, our luck allowing us the privilege of being doctors in this very lucky country should not be forgotten or taken for granted.

Given that we are equipped with the capacity to sympathize with others, nothing can prevent the circle of sympathy from expanding from the family and tribe to embrace all of humankind, particularly as reason goads us into realizing that there can be nothing uniquely deserving about ourselves or any of the groups to which we belong. We are forced into cosmopolitanism: accepting our citizenship in the world. (Steven Pinker – cognitive psychologist).

    So, if we claim capacity for significant sympathy we should not forget where this sympathy should extend.

    Thought experiment: You walk past a lake and see a child drowning. Do you jump in and save her life even though it will cost $500 to replace your ruined suit? (Peter Singer-philosopher).

        So… out of sight ought  not automatically translate to out of mind.

        It’s nearly the end of May so please consider making your contribution to TTD to help correct the massive imbalance of health resources in our one world.

        Also, never forget the considerable appreciation of your previous and hopefully future contributions. (See attached video).

        One Day’s Pay, A Lifetime of Impact

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        We are now well into May so I hope you are considering your contribution for this year’s “Doctor’s Day in May” effort. Your Colleagues have contributed over $40,000 so far so I am hoping you will join them.

        Please recall the key concepts..

        1. This is “virtual volunteering”  in that  you are funding an expansion of medical care in the developing world rather than you actually going there and working in a clinic with all the 

        – inconvenience to you, your patients here and your family 

        – direct cost in actually getting there

        – opportunity cost in lost income

        – potential danger involved

        1. The “avatar” you are funding has much more of the particular skills and the language required to do the work needed in that particular environment.
        1. By contributing to medical wages in Africa, you are supporting their economy with all the multiplier effects implied.
        1. Medical wages, particularly for greatly required nursing services, are a fraction of the cost in Africa or New Guinea compared to those in Australia. In Australia, nurses typically earn about $40 per hour. In PNG, it’s $1.50 per hour.

        This means your contribution goes a very long way in providing health care… which is after all why we chose medicine as a profession and what we try to do effectively on a daily basis.

        Thanks for considering your contribution.