A Doctors Life

Memoirs of My Medical Practice

Dr. Joseph Lauerman

Lauerman, Joseph A Doctors Life: Memoirs of My Medical Practice

Copyright 2006 Joseph Lauerman All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the author and publisher. Published by: Kathleen Lauerman & Patrick Collins Edmonton, Alberta

ISBN 978-1-897544-14-3

Publication assistance and printing in Canada by

www.pagemaster.ca 780-425-9303

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To Kathleen

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Acknowledgements
Thanks to Patrick Collins, who did the final compilation and arranging of the stories in this book. He is Dr. Joseph Lauermans nephew, his mother was, Elizabeth (Betty), Joes older sister. Betty was also an accomplished writer. Special thanks to Maureen Hodgson for her wonderful computer, typing, and editing skills. Thanks, also to Dale Youngman for his publishing assistance.

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About the Author

Dr. Lauerman graduated from the University of Alberta in 1948, and finished his internship in 1950. Over his 55 years of medical practice, he treated many patients and families, including six generations of one family. He has also delivered over 3,000 babies. His story, The Patient Heals the Doctor, was published in an Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC) pamphlet. Dr. Lauerman lived and worked in Edmonton for his entire life. He passed away in 2007 at the age of 83. His wife Kathleen, who is the motivation behind this book, still resides in Edmonton.

Truth is often more engaging than fiction. These stories, of memorable events and people, have been chosen from among experiences gained in over fifty years of medical general practice. A large obstetrical practice, in my early years, accounts for the predominance of related stories. Names, and location of events, have been changed. I beg forgiveness for errors. December, 2000 J. L.

Foreword
Joe Lauerman and I met in 1930 as grade one students and were friends ever since. He was born in Edmonton to a pioneering family. His father was a businessman in downtown Edmonton. His mother was a nursing graduate from the first graduating class of the School of Nursing at the Edmonton General Hospital. Joe attended Grandin and St. Josephs High Schools and graduated in 1948 from the University of Alberta. In 1950 he married Kathleen Kelly, also a graduate from the Edmonton General School of Nursing, and together they raised four delightful children. In the same year he established a medical practice in north Edmonton. This was a very new idea. From this beginning evolved the Calwood Clinic, which continues to be a focal point for medical care to this day. Joe provided total care for his patients. He was their doctor. He delivered their babies made house calls to treat acute ear infections, removed their tonsils, provided counseling to troubled teenagers and their parents, treated their pneumonias and heart diseases, and helped them die with peace and dignity. He emphasized and was completely involved with his patients. All of these services were provided with care and compassion to over three generations of patients, for almost six decades. He was truly their doctor. The role of the family doctor has changed and evolved. The laws of supply and demand interfere with the conditions under which Joe Lauerman provided care. We can only hope that physicians, nurses, politicians and economists can provide a model of care within which patients can once again refer to their doctor.

Dr. Joe OBrien M.D.

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Contents
My Italian Friends.......................................................................... 1 Mrs. Barretts Wine ........................................................................ 2 Mistaken Identity ........................................................................... 3 Jane ................................................................................................ 4 Howard........................................................................................... 5 Emergency Across the Street ........................................................ 6 Nothing I Could Do ....................................................................... 7 The Missing Baby........................................................................... 8 The Old Salt ................................................................................. 10 What An Earful! ........................................................................... 11 Thats Life .................................................................................... 12 Totally Unexpected....................................................................... 13 The Priests Problem ................................................................... 14 The Baby in the Bed .................................................................... 15 Spiritual Death ............................................................................ 16 Poor Father .................................................................................. 17

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Mr. Chelseas Cancer.................................................................... 18 Kathleens Birthday Party ........................................................... 19 Delayed Menstruation ................................................................. 20 A Tragedy...................................................................................... 21 A Headless Baby ........................................................................... 23 A Happy Ending ........................................................................... 24 Claude .......................................................................................... 25 Boys Will Be Boys ........................................................................ 26 The Patient Heals The Doctor ..................................................... 27 Practicing Medicine Without a License ...................................... 29 Love and Lung Cancer................................................................. 31 Johns Appendix ........................................................................... 32 A Tribute To Thea ........................................................................ 34 A Misadventure ............................................................................ 35 Do No Harm................................................................................. 36 About the Author ......................................................................... 37

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A life of service
An Alberta doctors 55 years in practice includes caring for six generations in a single family.

CP Photo / Edmonton Journal / Bruce Edwards

Dr. Joe Lauerman has treated 92 members of one family, including, from left: Natashia Goertzen and her daugher Kate, Veronica Kennedy, Theresa Marois, and Frances Thompson.
From the March 22, 2005 issue of The Medical Post.

My Italian Friends
During my early days in practice, before Medicare, I looked after many young Italian families, who were new immigrants to Canada. The men obtained jobs, and slowly learned to speak the language. Their wives stayed home, caring for the small children, and had little or no opportunity to learn English. On occasion, I would make a house call to visit a sick baby. Although I could not communicate with the mother, I could usually find an older sibling to act as interpreter. These children spoke perfect English, without accent, quickly learned from playing with other children on the street. I was always amazed by this fact. As newcomers they were poor, and we seldom got paid for our services, but it was customary to send them at least one bill for services rendered. I recall, with amusement, an occasion when a young father came to see me two months after I had delivered his wife of a baby boy. He had my bill in his hand and said, I wanna thanka you, doctor, for a nicea bambino. I ama very happy man, and so isa my wife. I havea here your bill for eightyfivea dollars but I wanna know how mucha Im agonna pay? Eighty-five dollars, I replied. Doctor, you donta understand, he said. Isa bill asays eighty five dollars, but how much Ima gonea pay cash? It occurred to me then, that he was simply doing business in the way he knew - by bartering. I was amused, and at the same time pleased, as I really did not expect to receive any payment for this delivery. Seventy dollars, I said. He reached into his pocket, produced a roll of bills, counted out seven tens, and placed them in front of me. Now, Doctor, he said. Will you pleasa write ona your bill to me paid in full? I happily obliged - seventy dollars was a lot better than nothing. I was certain this was one Italian who would do well in life.
A Doctors Life Memoirs of My Medical Practice 1

Mrs. Barretts Wine

One of my first patients was a lovely, elderly English lady, Mrs. Barrett, who lived in the east end of the city. Wine-making was one of her many hobbies. She was astounding she could make wine out of everything and anything. I can still hear her melodious voice, speaking slowly on the phone, in her lovely English accent. Hellooo Doctaaah, this is Missus Barrett calling. She took a special liking to my wife, Kathleen, who was the first nurse at my clinic. Each time Mrs. Barrett came to the office, she would bring us two or three bottles of her latest fermentation. These were always welcome, as I was in the early years of practice and we were still in debt. She also had a delightful sense of humour, which I tested one afternoon when she came to my office. With a serious face, I said, Mrs. Barrett, did you hear the latest news? What news is that, Doctaaah? A house has exploded in the east end. Really, Doctaah? Tell me more. Well, it seems that some elderly ladys wine cellar blew up. How unfortunate. She fell silent and serious, but after a few seconds a smile came over her face and she said, Oh, Doctaaah, youre just teasing me, arent you. We both had a good laugh. Like so many others now long gone from this earth, Kathleen and I cherish the memory of Mrs. Barrett and her wine.

Dr. Joseph Lauerman

Mistaken Identity
One day in July, early in my career, I arrived at my office just before 1:00 P.M. and readied myself for a busy afternoon. My receptionist informed me that there was a man in the waiting room who wanted to see me first regarding a personal matter. I asked her to show him in and I offered him a seat. He gave me his name and said he was from Leduc, and asked me if I knew why he was in my office. Perplexed, I replied that I did not. Then he pulled from his pocket a photograph of a women and two children, showed it to me and reiterated that now I must know why he was in my office. By this time I was not only perplexed, but growing impatient. Then he told me that the picture was that of his wife and two children and accused me of having an affair with her. I was furious and got up from my chair and ordered him out of my office, and threatened to call the police. After he left I was very upset and wondered what I should do. What was his game, I wondered? It certainly would not do to have some complete stranger going around accusing me of infidelity and sullying my reputation. I left my office early and decided to go down to the office of The College of Physicians and Surgeons and seek their advice. About halfway to their office it suddenly struck me a new doctor from Leduc had moved into an office a block away. I knew him slightly and he had reputation as a philanderer. Obviously, the cuckolded man had come to the wrong office. I turned around and came home and decided to do nothing unless I heard more. The matter never again surfaced. The doctor down the street and his wife eventually became my patients. He died from cancer some years later. I never told him of the incident.

A Doctors Life Memoirs of My Medical Practice

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