In 2014 Dr. Daniel Craviotto, an orthopedic surgeon in California, wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal that declared his independence from forces that would undermine the sacred patient-doctor relationship.  The piece went viral, with over 1400 comments.  And it helped lead to the formation of Let My Doctor Practice, a movement to provide a forum for doctors and patients to renew the relationship that is the very soul of medicine.

Dr. Craviotto recently renewed his vows to medicine:

Words could never adequately explain my passion or love for our medical profession and what I do.  What we do.

I absolutely loved my medical school experience.  Don’t get me wrong: It was damn hard, grueling and challenging.  But I loved the commitment, passion, dedication and energy of my medical school fellow students.  We bonded together.  We endured.  We persevered.  We learned.  Anatomy.  Physiology.  Pathology.  Clinical rotations.  On call.  Tired, spent and challenged.  But I loved it.  I gave up my 20s and 30s but oh what I gained.  To see all of my medical students and residents passionately learn, tirelessly apply themselves, dedicate their lives to their patients and learn the art of medicine, the skills of doctoring through the lows, the highs and yes the tears — well that is the stuff that bonds us together.  They can never take that from me or you or us.  What we have is eternal.  A passion to heal, a desire to learn, a humility that is born out of striving to heal another human being but occasionally failing.  Patients will always die, complications ensue, and disease destroys the human body.  But we press on — always optimistic, always looking for a cure, committed to our patients, and striving to do our best for our patients.

They can never take that away from us.  You are all my heroes.  I love you for your ideals and your dedication.  Here is the challenge.  Don’t let them destroy the passion of why you became a doctor.  That’s my prayer for our medical profession.  Bless you all.

A prayer for us all, Dr. Craviotto.  Thank you.