Lazygal has posted a piece from the trenches, reportedly written on Tuesday by someone named Gregory S. Henderson MD, PhD.
“We have commandeered the world famous French Quarter Bar to turn into an makeshift clinic. There is a team of about 7 doctors and PA and pharmacists. We anticipate that this will be the major medical facility in the central business district and French Quarter. Our biggest adventure today was raiding the Walgreens on Canal under police escort…In a sort of cliche way, this is an edifying experience. One is rapidly focused away from the transient and material to the bare necessities of life. It has been challenging to me to learn how to be a primary care phyisican.”
A dubious reader has questioned its authenticity, based on his or her belief that “there aren’t that many practicing physicians who are MD, PhDs” and an inability to find a listing for the doc in the Louisana area. The doubter wonders “Is this just a well-intentioned blogger’s attempt to put a first person spin on the news?” By the doc’s own words, primary care is not his field — maybe he’s a pharmacologist — what difference does it make? Do I sound naive? Normally my zeal for “nonfiction means checking all the facts” would make me smile at the doubters questions and resourcefulness, but right now I am a little desparate myself, desparate to believe that someone somewhere is doing something to help those people who are in such dire straights. I know bad situations give rise to many scams, but there will be plenty of time when this is over to vet the reports and unmask the pretenders.
Meanwhile, let’s not flog the bloggers who are filling the communication void and providing an invaluable service. To see more blogs from the trenches, check out Terry Teachout’s site containing summary info and an amazing list of links to “bloggers who’ve been posting from/near/about New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.”