Stitches: The Journal of Medical Humour
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Stitches: The Journal of Medical Humour was a Canadian-based humour magazine (ceased publication in 2007) written by health professionals, for health professionals. Established in 1990, it is published bi-monthly and sent to hospitals and clinics all over Canada. Its primary focus is to provide comedic relief to an otherwise stiff and rigid profession, and to expose the lighter side of the healthcare industry.
"[Stitches] is a humour magazine dedicated to the proposition that although medicine is a serious business, it is practised most effectively with the aid of regular doses of light relief."1
Contents |
[edit] Stitches: The Journal of Medical Humour
Stitches has a wide variety of articles from both doctors and patients, and includes features from regular authors (columns), as well as many independent writers (features). Each issue contains a large cartoon on the front cover, often depicting a doctor in a humorous situation. The magazine itself contains cartoons interspersed with the articles inside.
[edit] Regular Columns
Regular columns account for a large part of the magazine's content, containing material sent in from regular authors. There are 6 contributors to the columns section, each with their own brand of wit and sarcasm that makes Stitches as diverse as it is.
The following articles are listed in alphabetical order by their article name.
[edit] Bad Advice for Better Living
Authored by psychiatrist Dr. Lara Hazelton, Bad Advice for Better Living was changed to Best Evidence for Worst Practices in Spring 2006. Dr. Hazelton lends her psychiatric advice to questions sent in by her unsuspecting readers.
Dr. Hazelton is a Halifax psychiatrist who has written for a number of medical publications.
[edit] Dr. Dara's Diary
Written by Dr. Dara Behroozi, a physician in Vancouver, Dr. Dara's Diary chronicles the adventures of the doctor in his office, through a wide variety of subjects ranging from interactions with his patients, to the happenings of his family life, to his experiences boating. Dr. Behroozi's humour often places a certain spin on his practise, and his writing style often allows the reader to laugh along while becoming a part of it.
Dr. Dara's Diary always follows a five-section structure, beginning with "Monday", the first day of the work week, to "Friday", the day before the weekend. He always ends his articles with the phrase: "Have a(n) [adjective] week".
[edit] Impatient Patient
Claire Moran contributes to Stitches for the article Impatient Patient. As a "self-confessed hypochondriac"3, Moran writes on general issues such as children, disease (humorously), and on one occasion, predictions of the year 2003.
Claire Moran, as her article's title confirms, is a patient, not a doctor.
[edit] Red Tape
Written by Dr. Steve Kaladeen, a physician in an Ontario hospital, Red Tape follows a fictitious version of his own self.
[edit] The Mighty MacRuaraidh
Introduced in January of 2004, Dr. Alistair Munro writes about the (often cocky) adventures of MacRuaraidh. Pronounced "MacRorie", this student of a six-year undergraduate course (Medical school) "incorporated every Celtic gene in existence into his personal appearance"3. Following MacRuaraidh's adventures, we see the author's take on a student who clearly shouldn't have made it through medical school, but did.
[edit] The Money Doctor
A relatively new article written by Francis D'Andrade, The Money Doctor focuses on a humorous take on financial situations, and often offers lighthearted advice for the common doctor.
Contrary to the article's name, Francis D'Andrade is not a physician.
[edit] Stitches for Patients
First published in November/December of 2005, Stitches for Patients is a supplement to the already popular Stitches: The Journal of Medical Humour.
[edit] References
- Stitches - The Journal of Medical Humour. Retrieved on December 16th, 2005.
- Dr. Hazelton, Lara (May 2003). "Bad Advice for Better Living - Bad Advice for Better Living". Stitches: The Journal of Medical Humour (134): 27.
- Moran, Claire (February 2002). "Impatient Patient - Disordered". Stitches: The Journal of Medical Humour (119): 73.
- Dr. Munro, Alistair (January 2004). "The Mighty MacRuaraidh - Meet MacRuaraidh". Stitches: The Journal of Medical Humour (142): 17.
