REFLECTIONS: Blood Compact, Folks?
Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines- Jan 2017: Blood Compact Shrine( Sandugo). This well-known monument in scenic surrounds is a statue depicting a famous blood compact from 1565 by Teresita Bacani-Oropilla, MD
Years ago, a curious 9-year-old history student in the Philippines was reading about the“ Blood Compact.” Illustrated in a full-page painting, it showed two local burly chieftains who decided to end the endless wars that had decimated their clans.
Each cut a vein on his arm, put both bleeding arms together, joining their blood into one. A dramatic demonstration indeed, probably not anatomically nor physiologically correct, but it certainly fulfilled its purpose. Peace reigned!
Would that creating peace in our sophisticated present could be as easy and credible!
It may not be in blood compacts in our easily accessible present world, but have we coalesced as family, as kin or as plain faithful friends? Or is it the opposite: we have distanced our own selves from physical and emotional entanglements to pursue individual or personal goals and pleasures? And thus – not care about others?
How are physicians involved in this anyway? In many ways, it seems.
As parents and relatives grow older, they may begin to need physical and mental help. Physicians are usually involved in deciding whether they are still capable of individual living or not. If so, what are the limitations? If not, where is the best placement?
Likewise, on physicians rest the decisions on how best to care for poor patients, the orphans, the medically frail, people struggling with addictions, the mentally impaired, the homeless, the“ no speak English” newcomers who present themselves for relief. We need help with this, from nurses, translators and community organizations, but the person in the exam room with us at that moment is our responsibility.
No easy“ blood compact” solutions for these problems. Who do we think should be the chieftains willing to give their blood for a cause?
That’ s who we need! Dr. Bacani-Oropilla is a retired pediatrician and psychiatrist.
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