Forgotten Dedications of Doctor Yousiff (Joseph) Yahyi

Forgotten Dedications of

Doctor Yousiff (Joseph) Yahyi

In recent days my dear friend and neighbor in my beloved village Aramoun, Chauki A’rrif Abi Ghanaam, sent me a book entitled: ‘Aramoun in Reminiscence and Nature’.  The book is written by the author Shafiq Amin Yahyi and was officially launched in the village’ hall on 18 October 2013.  This particular copy of the book was dedicated to Chauki by the author. On the back of the front cover of the book there is beautifully handwritten poem by Chauki’ nephew - Ramzi Assad Yahyi.  I am indebted to Chauki for this endearing gift.  I also extend my deep appreciation and thanks to the author and to everyone that contributed to make this book possible.

Having read the book I can say that although I left Aramoun at the age of 11 years I related either from direct memory or through hearsay to substantial parts of the narratives and tales dealing with the distant past under the Ottoman era, the twentieth century, the present and continuum.  I was particularly touched and relate to the story of the Late Doctor Yousiff Yahyi and Palestine that appears on page 97.  The reason for being touched by the story stems from the fact that the Late Doctor youngest sister, May, was a student in the Seventh Day Advantest School in Aramoun at the same time I was in the primary section of that school.

From very young age I learned to play the Tabla (Durbeki) and learned the beats for common folkloric dances.  I also learned the beat that accompanies the poets on stage when they are hotly debating their Zajal and vibrating their hand held tambourine.  I specifically recall as either 8 or 9 or possibly 10 years old attending to May’s wedding.  I attended the night before the wedding and the following day when May dressed as a bride left her parent’s home with the bridal party.  The well known and highly regarded poets (now deceased): Zein Shai’eb, and Assad Saeed were present.  The night before the wedding everyone was anticipating the arrival of doctor Youssif from Damascus. Non more so than his elderly beloved father Sleiman.  Shortly before 11 pm the good doctor made his appearance and went straight to hug his father.  At this point Assad Saeed said a short poem (raadi) that brought tears to the eyes of everyone present.  Assad was asked number of time to repeat the poem and each time he added to it.  In essence the poem was a masterpiece and it could have easily come from John Chrysostom better known as the Golden Mouth, being so apt and opportune for the occasion.  Assad said: ‘once Jacob was so sickly melancholic that all learned and men of wisdom gave up on treating him and said it is a matter of short time before he departs life but Jacob’s zest for life and sight was restored when he smelled Joseph’ shirt and hugged him as long lost youngest and favourite son’.  Needless to say everyone who had gun or a pistol handy started shooting in the air.

The following day in a heated poetic debate between Assad and Zein during which Zein compared Assad to a porter in fruit and vegetable market.  Assad was in a fine form his reply was again like words coming from the Golden Mouth.  Assad reply in essence:  ‘you sent me as a sample porter to the market and the crowd was competing for my services. A rusted tin becomes so precious in the hands of wise metal worker and the most precious jewel will lose its luster and value in the hands of a fool’.  Again Assad was asked to repeat his reply and again everyone who had pistol or gun ready started shooting in the air.

I am proud to say I was the tabla player sitting next to Zein at that time!

After reading the story of doctor Youssif commencing on page 97 in the book it was the first time I became aware that the good doctor had built hospital and practiced medicine in Haifa Palestine before the creation of the State of Israel.  It is ironic in the extreme having escaped the wars immediately before and after the official declaration of the State of Israel in 1948 to be martyred 35 years later in his practice by Israeli bombing raid on Damascus during the 1973 Arab/Israeli war.  It is heartening to know that despite the hazard of the journey to Damascus at the time good number of fellow Aramouni made it to the funeral.   

It is heartening to know that his memory in Aramoun is eternal and a chapter in this commendable new book about Aramoun is dedicated to his dedication to the medical profession and humanitarian deeds.

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DSM 5 AND CLASSIFICATION OF MENTAL ILLNESS

DSM 5 AND CLASSIFICATION

OF MENTAL ILLNESS  

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On 18 May 2013, the fifth edition of the updated ‘Bible’ of the American Psychiatric Association’ Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) became available to practicing psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, neuro-psychologists, and others involved in psychiatry.  DSM 5 replaced DSM 4 which was issued in 2000.  Normally a select task force is entrusted with the required research and contribution involved in producing such a reference Manual.  In this case the Task Force was formed in 2007 and the Manual is some 947 pages.

Significance of DSM 5 on everyone

You may well ask why bother writing such a blog when it really is an intrusion on the domain of the medical profession and specifically, the specialty of psychiatry.  The reason is simply the effect DSM 5 will have either directly or indirectly on all, yes all of us!  Unless a patient who is not feeling well and his General Practitioner cannot find anything organically to explain that feeling he or she is often referred to psychiatrist or clinical psychologist.  The chances are that patient is often privately health insured.  Unless that psychiatrist or psychologist provides diagnosis based on DSM 5 classification that patient is denied medication and denied private health insurance coverage.  If not covered by the Public Health such as the Australian Medicare System that can be costly exercise for anyone undergoing treatment.

In DSM 4 excessive bereavement, homosexuality, gender identity disorders, post traumatic stress disorders, autism, certain types of schizophrenia and Asperger syndrome were included and classified as mental conditions for which medication were prescribed and all private health insurance covered.  DSM 5 sets the bars higher for diagnosis of these conditions by either adding further criteria or complete deletion of the condition.

In recent weeks there had been major discussion and criticism of DSM 5 by members of various psychiatric associations especially in USA, UK, Canada, and Australia.  The thrust of these criticisms relate to undue influence by psychiatric drug industry, lack of independent empirical support and corroborative evidence for the addition, revision, and deletions.  Perhaps the more telling criticism relates to the quality of the information in support of changes, confusion and contradictions.  The bulk of those telling criticism comes from practicing psychiatrists and clinical psychologists!   

Personally, I'm outraged. What are your thoughts?

        

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QLD Bikie Laws - A Mockery of Justice

Sun-Stroked Perception of Justice

or Sheer Insanity?

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The National Liberal Party won unprecedented majority in the last election in the State of Queensland.  A majority that can justifiably ignore, let alone take any heed of the Labor opposition and its contribution to debate matters of concern to the residents of the State of Queensland and to Australia as a whole.  The Premier Campbell Newman is first time Premier and politician for that matter having been inducted months before the election. Likewise numerous member of the Newman government are first time politicians that are  at best novices compared with seasoned politicians.  The novice aspect, the size of the majority, and lack of opposition pose unprecedented danger to the required and expected standard of parliamentary debate and speeches for passage or defeat of legislations.  This is more so when the legislations impacts on lives of every individual in Queensland.  The added danger to this mix of first time Premier, and lack of experience is the tendency of the Labor opposition to side with the Newman government.  Sadly this siding with Newman Government cannot be more ill conceived and pronounced then the latest maverick, ignorant, ill thought, unconscionable, and illegal legislations purportedly specifically geared to control Bikie gangs.  Legislations that not only demeaned the integrity of the office of the highest legal officer in the State of Queensland, that of the Attorney General, Jarrod Bleijie, but makes mockery of that office in the eyes of the legal profession in Queensland, the judiciary, and the civilized world.

Attorney General Jarrod Bleijie, did not grimace when he pronounced the proposed legislations entitled: Vicious Lawless Associations Disestablishment Bill, The Tattoo Parlours Bill, Criminal (Gang Disruption) Amendment Bill.  Each of these three Bills banishes and removes all judicial and legal discretion by imposing lengthy mandatory sentences that makes judicial officer rubber stamps.  Sentences, that are further enhanced and given weight by the imposition of additional (non concurrent) sentence by refusal to answer questions or divulge information to law enforcement officers.  The President of Australian Council of Civil Liberties, Terry O’Gorman was not wrong when he said these laws highlights the inexperience of the holders of the highest governmental offices in the State of Queensland and makes these laws a laughing stock.   Despite the size of its minority by not standing up and screaming loudly against these misconceived draconian laws, in my opinion the Queensland Labor opposition became part and parcel of that laughing stock.

Australia is a signatory to number of international treaties that guarantees human dignity, human rights including minimum standard for treatment of prisoners.  These obligations are clearly foreign to Premier Campbell Newman or is Queensland succeeding from Australia? Does Premier Campbell Newman seriously think he can build Bikie only prison and incarcerate Bikies in cell for 23 hours a day dressed in pink?  If he does I seriously feel sorry for the residents in the State of Queensland.

Before concluding this blog I would like to remind all Ministers in the State of Queensland that in a speech to the House of Lords, 9 January 1770 William Pitt, Earl of Chatham (1708 – 1778) and Prime Minister 1766-8 said: ‘unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it. Likewise the famous British historian, Lord Acton (1834-1902) said: ‘power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely’.  

Finally I consider it to be the duty of the legal profession of Queensland either the Bar Association or the Law Society or combined to forthwith commence legal challenge in the High Court of Australia to strike out the three Bills.  If any doubt exists about the illegality of the three Bills section 29 of the Australian Constitution giving Parliament power to legislate for the purpose of ensuring Australia complies with its foreign obligation in international treaties and covenants  is a good start.      

         

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The Wasp

UNIQUE PRIESTLY HOMILY

Part 1

(The Wasp)

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I cannot say that I have firsthand knowledge of this homily but I can say that I did hear it from Abo Kamil who was the president and caretaker of St Elias Church in my beloved village of Aramoun.

Due to its size being some 40 homes the Christian Community of Aramoun could not afford to have permanent resident priest at all times.  The arrangement that existed was that the Orthodox Patriarchy of Mount Lebanon adopted rostering system in allocated priests to various villages in Mount Lebanon for Sunday mass.  The procedure was a priest will come late Saturday and leaves late Sunday.  This particular homily that left indelible tale in the village was delivered by a newly rostered priest, Father Francis, and that was his first mass in St Elias Aramoun.  Father Francis was in his mid thirties and arrived in the village midday Saturday.  He was met by Abo Kamil who showed him the church and took him as a guest to his house.  Father Francis was from the Akkar Region of Lebanon and Aramoun was the second village in his six week roster.  Besides the normal handbag containing the priest’ regalia Father Francis had a round brown bag that was strapped to his left shoulder.

As most serious church parishioners know before the main mass there are matins and and at night there are vesper masses in which chants are performed in one of eight tones in accordance with Byzantium traditions.  On this particular occasion with Father Francis Abo Kamil told me that the Epistle reading was from Saint Paul’s letter to the Hebrew and the Gospel reading was according to Saint Mark.  Girgi Abdallah was icon of Aramoun.  He had heavenly voice and was well trained in all Byzantium tones and church traditions.  After Girgi read/chanted the Epistle Father Francis read the Gospel and it was time for Father Francis to give his homily.  Not wanting to follow church tradition and give standard homily applicable to the Gospel Father Francis fetched the bag he carried strapped to his shoulder from behind the altar opened it and to the amazement of the Aramouni congregation he took out a human skull!  From behind the pulpit Father Francis lifted the skull so everyone could see it.  For a few seconds Father Francis appeared to be thinking how he was going to commence his homily.  He started:

‘From dust to dust, human life, one minute you are here the next you gone’ said Father Francis to his captive Aramouni parishioners looking at the skull.  He continued:  

‘Not one of you, neither I, know who this man was or how he lived his life.  Rich, poor, good, bad, dignified, undignified, saintly, wicked’ … then Father Francis screamed:

‘Hhhhhhhhhhhhh fuck, fuck’ as a wasp that was trying to get out from the orbital fissure (eye socket) stung Father Francis middle finger and another wasp followed as the stunned  Aramouni congregation ducked to avoid the two wasps now buzzing in the church.  Regaining his composure Father Francis said: ‘He could not have been a good man he was obviously ‘ibn sharmouta’ - wicked son of bitch.

Abo Kamil who is known as a man of wisdom in village opened the door so the two wasps left asked Father Francis either to retract the ibn sharmouta comments of a deceased person or give credible evidence that the skull is identified and it is that of a wicked man.  A parishioner lady named Salma sitting at the back shouted: ‘How do you know that the skull is not that of a woman?’ Now irate Father Francis nursing his swollen middle finger said: ‘If it is that of a woman then that woman is bint sharmouta - wicked daughter of a bitch.   Another parishioner asked Father Francis who he got hold of this skull.  Now clearly angry Father Francis with clearly swollen and red throbbing middle finger said: ‘if a deceased is able to harm a man of the church in death and years after death he or she is not only son or daughter of a bitch he or she is manuik or manuiki you interpreted whichever way you like’. Father Francis walked off the pulpit in disgust and refused to continue with the mass.

Needless to say Abo Kamil made formal complaint against Father Francis to the Patriarchy.  The following week Father Ephram fronted up to give the mass at Saint Elias.

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Conception, Life and Criminal Law

Conception/Life and Criminal Law

When does life begin? This is a question that occupied the minds of humanity greatest thinkers and philosophers throughout mankind recorded civilizations.  Different religions offer different answers.  Embryology tells us the full systems that makes the human body functional and that sustain life after birth, ie, the nervous system, the circulatory system, the kidneys etc are complete after 13 weeks gestation in utro.   But what legal right does that 13 weeks systemically fully functional foetus has before the common and criminal law?  This is a question that modern day societies have to come to term with.  The one thing that is certain the final version of that law whether it be amendment to the existing Crimes Act, or new precedent set by the Highest Court in the land it will reflect on each one of us as citizen.  How and why? Think for one moment about motor traffic and transport, illicit drug use, and the practice of obstetric and gynaecology.   

Imagine for one moment serious motor accident in which pregnant female was either the driver or passenger.   The concern of the medical staff and those involved in treating the injured mother is the status and injuries to the foetus.  If as a result of the injuries the mother passes away and the foetus cannot be saved is it one life or two lives that are lost?  If the mother passes away and the foetus is saved but sustains injuries what legal rights did that foetus have under the law? More importantly is the question when did that legal right become operative? Is it in utro or when the surgeon performed Caesarean operation and brought premature and deformed baby to life?

Let us take another example imagine for one moment a pregnant young lady is illicit drug user, heavy smoker, and alcoholic gives birth to a baby that is grossly under weight, malnourished, and has serious health problem including deformities.  Could this mother be charged under the Criminal Law with supply of drugs to her foetus/baby whilst in utro?   Theoretically yes depending on the answer to the question when life begins.

The question when does life begins? And that life is bestowed with legal rights is a question that often arises in medical malpractice against the medical profession and the specialty of obstetric and gynaecology. Questions and legal issues to do with life and legal rights more often than not arise in cases involving undetected foetal deformities, genetical or otherwise,  miscarriages, breeched deliveries,  and stillbirths.  The answer to these questions determines legal liability and award of damages.  At present all that lawyers go by in advising clients or counsel proffering advice are precedents set by the Highest Court in the land.

In the next blog I will attempt to address the question: when life begins and the legal rights that ensue from ethical, philosophical, and religious points of view.   

The Facts: Syria and Civil Wars

The Facts

Syria and Civil Wars

Whilst the United States, Britain, and France ponders the most effective military  punishment to dish to the Syrian government for purported use of chemical weapon against its people in the suburb of  Muadhamiya the historical facts about modern day Syria and President Bashar El Assad and civil wars should not be lost.  Here is a brief summary of those facts:

Historical Facts:

It is good and well for Prime Minister Cameron to call the House of Common back to get a vote authorising the use of force against Syria.  Perhaps in fairness before the House of Common votes on any motion authorising the use of force the House should debate another motion questioning Britain’ historical liability and blame for what is happening in modern day Syria. The indisputable fact is that after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1918 Britain ruled and influenced the future course of Syria for good 25 years before Syria became independent country.  In order to oppose Arab Nationalism led from the Hijaz after the war Britain encouraged minor Islamic sects such as the Alawites (Nusayri Shia) to enroll and train in the army and air force. El Assad Family was amongst other families and candidates that took advantage of the opportunity.  

If Prime Minister Cameron chooses to ignore history and Britain’ historical liability for modern day Syria and obtain a vote in the House of Common authorizing bombardment of Damascus.  History will judge Britain harshly regardless whether the House votes on a motion authorizing use of force for the sole reason of Assad purported use of chemical weapon or Weapon of Mass Destruction.

Civil Wars:

The current death toll in Syria is some 100,000 or more likely 150,000 killed and some 2 plus million people on the move to neighbouring countries and internally.  The population of Syria is around 24 million people.  The war officially started in March 2011.  The percentage death in Syria to date taking a death toll of 150,000 is 0.63% of the population.

Between 1860 and 1864 America, the mighty USA, went through civil war between North and South.  In 1860 America’s population was in the region of 34 million.  The death toll was in excess 750,000 which represent 2.2% of the population which about 3.5 times of the death toll to date in Syria.

Between 1975 and 1990 Lebanon was embroiled in civil war.  The death toll during the 15 plus years civil war was 220,000. As at 1975 the population of Lebanon was in the region of 3 million.  The percentage death is whopping 7.3 of the population which is some 11.6 times the death toll to date in Syria.

Accordingly on any count taking either the American or the Lebanese civil wars as a guide Syria got lot of catching up to do.

Finally one should not lose sight of the fact that epidemics that could be spread by flea, mosquitoes, and rodents can kill substantial percentage of any population.

The risk involved in the USA, Britain, and France jointly bombarding Damascus should not be under estimated.  Each of the three religions that inhabit the Middle East sees the endgame and salvation in Jerusalem.  Control of Jerusalem is therefore a priority.

  

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WTF JURY VERDICT

UNIQUE JURY VERDICT

Dubbo District Court

Regina -v - Palmertson

This jury verdict is from the annals of the history of criminal law in the State of New South Wales Australia.  The trial to which the verdict pertain took place well over 120 years ago during the regain of Queen Victoria in Dubbo District Court.  Dubbo is some 400 kilometer Northwest of Sydney. Nowadays Dubbo is thriving centre for agriculture and beef and farm machinery.

The jury consisted of 12 people (7 men, 5 women) selected from a panel of jurors.  The accused was a man named Palmertson.  The indictment alleges that Palmertson stole a healthy milking cow. If convicted, Palmertson custodial faced custodial sentence up to 10 year penal servitude.  

After a four days trial and addresses by the prosecutor and defence counsel the trial judge summed up the evidence to the jury and asked them to deliberate and come to a verdict of either Mr Palmertson guilty of the offence as charged in the indictment or not guilty.  Some four hours later the jury came back to Court with a verdict:

Judge’ Associate:    ‘Mr foreman has the jury reached a verdict?’

Jury Foreman:        ‘We have Your Honour’

Judge’ Associate:    ‘Do you find the accused guilty as charged?’

Jury Foreman:        ‘We find the accused not guilty if he returns the cow’

Trial Judge:        ‘This is the most bizarre verdict I have ever heard in my many years on the Bench.  It is not a verdict.  You go back to your deliberation and come up with a verdict of either ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty as charged’.

The trial judge again gave the jury brief summing up of the evidence and the elements of the offence to which they need to be satisfied and sent them on their way back to the jury room to deliberate and come up with guilty or not guilty verdict.

Within an hour of being addresse

d by the judge the jury came back with a verdict:

Judge’ Associate:    ‘Mr foreman has the jury reached a verdict?’

Jury Foreman:        ‘We have Your Honour’

Judge’ Associate:    ‘Do you find the accused guilty as charged?’

Jury Foreman:        ‘We find the accused not guilty and he can keep the cow!’

Concrete

Concreting

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I was recently told by a friend in the precast concreting business how many cubic meters of concrete he single handedly managed to pour and settle.  The figure was astonishing, 30 cubic meters!  In astonishment I said:  ‘Mick you are kidding me’.  Mick looked me in the eye and said: ‘Have I ever told you anything that was not the gospel truth?’  I narrated to Mick my own and that of two doctor friends of mine experience in concreting a veranda in my residence some 20 plus years ago at a time when I worked at the Prince of Wales Hospital. I also told Mick I want to blog the tale in the hope it will be of some help to people who do not know much about concrete:

The form worker who laid the form work and steel in readiness for the concrete pour estimated 6 meters of normal psi strength concrete will be required.  I said I will arrange the pour for around lunchtime and bring two doctors friends and me and we will take care of the concrete pour over a luncheon break.  I do not recall the form worker making any comments but I specifically remember him raising his eyebrow and giving me a smile.

Some two days later after checking the duty roster of my doctor friends George and Chin and myself I arranged for concrete trucks to come at 1 pm sharp.  The three of us all in white coats with stethoscopes in pockets arrived some 15 minutes earlier.  Immediately after a truck arrived and started laying pipes from the street to the veranda.  The three of us rolled our sleeves and quickly realized that we did not have any tools other than a shovel a spade and a small trowel.  We looked at each other in awe each wearing white shirt, tie, matching Harris Tweed trouser and shoe as the last connection of the pipes was raise over the veranda. ‘Ready boys’ said the concrete truck driver who had just arrived.   I looked at Chin who still had his tie on and to George who raised his should and reading his lips said ‘what the f—k we got ourselves into’ before the truck driver could say the concrete could solidify if you are not quick I said: ‘ready as we could ever be’.  Within 2 minutes the concrete started to pour from the pile on the on the formwork it quickly became mountainous we looked at each other with me holding the shovel, George the trowel, and Chin the spade we looked at each other in total bewilderment.  The splash of the concrete was now all over our shirts and trousers and our faces.  I could hear some laughter over the fence.  My good neighbor, Gus, who had been builder for years before serving in the commando unit in Papua New Guinea in the Second World War (and was amongst the few survivors) came across and brought some of his tools.  Gus called the truck driver to stop for few minutes as he got to work and directed each one of us to do specific task.  Soon the mountain of concrete that could have caused the whole formwork to collapse was spread almost evenly across the veranda.  Within half an hour the three Prince of Wales medicos were sweating profusely.  Bless his heart Gus got his wife to call few people that he knew in the building industry to come across.

As I drove back towards Prince of Wales Hospital near Sydney Airport each of our pagers started peeping.  The lady at the switchboard had reported neither doctors Chin or George or Michael were answering his pager.  We arrived at Prince of Wales and each in turn went to the main switchboard and gave an excuse as to his whereabout.  My excuse was that I lost my pager and had a nap in the Residents’ Quarter.  Not a single one of us got reprimanded by management.   After this experience but for Gus could have been costly and embarrassingly disastrous on the front news of the bi weekly local paper I am sure ever since each one of us holds concreters in high regard.

Mick, my friend despite the fact that you have been in the concreting industry for many years Chin, George, and Michael and the entire medical profession especially the one at Prince of Wales Hospital solutes you and the very few likes of you.