it was another day at work in the hospital
hospital
hospital and this time I was at the pediatric
and this time I was at the pediatric
and this time I was at the pediatric ward and I opened the door and I see so
ward and I opened the door and I see so
ward and I opened the door and I see so many patients and their parents sitting
many patients and their parents sitting
many patients and their parents sitting on beds on the floor wherever there was
on beds on the floor wherever there was
on beds on the floor wherever there was space really I go up to the nurse and
space really I go up to the nurse and
space really I go up to the nurse and ask sir who are the patients that are
ask sir who are the patients that are
ask sir who are the patients that are most sick she pointed at the far right
most sick she pointed at the far right
most sick she pointed at the far right corner I then realized that they want
corner I then realized that they want
corner I then realized that they want patients today I had to look at them
patients today I had to look at them
patients today I had to look at them through a different set of eyes more
through a different set of eyes more
through a different set of eyes more precisely another nose I am a hospital
precisely another nose I am a hospital
precisely another nose I am a hospital clown
clown
clown I wear a nose I put on makeup a costume
I wear a nose I put on makeup a costume
I wear a nose I put on makeup a costume and I can become anything they want me
and I can become anything they want me
and I can become anything they want me to be but before I go into that let me
to be but before I go into that let me
to be but before I go into that let me tell you a story so I’m in that ward and
tell you a story so I’m in that ward and
tell you a story so I’m in that ward and I’m playing with the kids I’m doing
I’m playing with the kids I’m doing
I’m playing with the kids I’m doing magic tricks I’m making them laugh and
magic tricks I’m making them laugh and
magic tricks I’m making them laugh and then I see a little boy who’s probably
then I see a little boy who’s probably
then I see a little boy who’s probably around eight years old but he was
around eight years old but he was
around eight years old but he was suffering from a chronic liver disease
suffering from a chronic liver disease
suffering from a chronic liver disease that made him very weak and so sick that
that made him very weak and so sick that
that made him very weak and so sick that he couldn’t even sit up in his bed as I
he couldn’t even sit up in his bed as I
he couldn’t even sit up in his bed as I walked to him his mother came quickly to
walked to him his mother came quickly to
walked to him his mother came quickly to me and said there’s no point going to
me and said there’s no point going to
me and said there’s no point going to him he’s very angry all the time and he
him he’s very angry all the time and he
him he’s very angry all the time and he probably won’t even talk to you I
probably won’t even talk to you I
probably won’t even talk to you I decided to go ahead anyway as I walk
decided to go ahead anyway as I walk
decided to go ahead anyway as I walk next to him he put his hands on his
next to him he put his hands on his
next to him he put his hands on his yours and said please don’t sing I said
yours and said please don’t sing I said
yours and said please don’t sing I said okay I’m not gonna sing don’t worry what
okay I’m not gonna sing don’t worry what
okay I’m not gonna sing don’t worry what else would you like me to do would you
else would you like me to do would you
else would you like me to do would you like to play a game shook his head said
like to play a game shook his head said
like to play a game shook his head said okay would you like to see a magic trick
okay would you like to see a magic trick
okay would you like to see a magic trick would you like me to tell you a joke and
would you like me to tell you a joke and
would you like me to tell you a joke and this one he
this one he
this one he he said wait why don’t I tell you a joke
he said wait why don’t I tell you a joke
he said wait why don’t I tell you a joke said okay he told us a joke and it was
said okay he told us a joke and it was
said okay he told us a joke and it was actually quite quite funny and his
actually quite quite funny and his
actually quite quite funny and his mother was so surprised he was actually
mother was so surprised he was actually
mother was so surprised he was actually talking to us and then after that I
talking to us and then after that I
talking to us and then after that I asked him okay do you want to see a
asked him okay do you want to see a
asked him okay do you want to see a trick said okay there a magic trick and
trick said okay there a magic trick and
trick said okay there a magic trick and then I asked him to choose his favorite
then I asked him to choose his favorite
then I asked him to choose his favorite game and he chose my favorite you know
game and he chose my favorite you know
game and he chose my favorite you know the one way you put your hand across and
the one way you put your hand across and
the one way you put your hand across and ask them to hit you and you take it away
ask them to hit you and you take it away
ask them to hit you and you take it away when it was his turn to hit my hand
when it was his turn to hit my hand
when it was his turn to hit my hand he hit my hand quite hard and his mother
he hit my hand quite hard and his mother
he hit my hand quite hard and his mother was looking at me and said please be
was looking at me and said please be
was looking at me and said please be careful he’s too weak it was that moment
careful he’s too weak it was that moment
careful he’s too weak it was that moment I realized that he had forgotten he was
I realized that he had forgotten he was
I realized that he had forgotten he was a patient and that he was sick he was
a patient and that he was sick he was
a patient and that he was sick he was just playing like a regular kid I then
just playing like a regular kid I then
just playing like a regular kid I then asked him would you like me to sing a
asked him would you like me to sing a
asked him would you like me to sing a song for you he closed his eyes he
song for you he closed his eyes he
song for you he closed his eyes he nodded his head and as I was singing he
nodded his head and as I was singing he
nodded his head and as I was singing he clapped his hands it was time for me to
clapped his hands it was time for me to
clapped his hands it was time for me to go I said bye to everyone and as I was
go I said bye to everyone and as I was
go I said bye to everyone and as I was leaving I heard a familiar voice he
leaving I heard a familiar voice he
leaving I heard a familiar voice he shouted out when will I see you again it
shouted out when will I see you again it
shouted out when will I see you again it was that moment I realized what an a big
was that moment I realized what an a big
was that moment I realized what an a big impact that was in even though I spent
impact that was in even though I spent
impact that was in even though I spent just a few minutes and that was the
just a few minutes and that was the
just a few minutes and that was the power of Hospital clowning Hospital
power of Hospital clowning Hospital
power of Hospital clowning Hospital clowning is not new in fact it dates all
clowning is not new in fact it dates all
clowning is not new in fact it dates all the way back to hip Hippocrates he talks
the way back to hip Hippocrates he talks
the way back to hip Hippocrates he talks about how being in a good mood
about how being in a good mood
about how being in a good mood positively influences the healing
positively influences the healing
positively influences the healing process why even dr. Thomas Sydenham
process why even dr. Thomas Sydenham
process why even dr. Thomas Sydenham talks about how a good clown is better
talks about how a good clown is better
talks about how a good clown is better than a bunch of asses with drugs I’m
than a bunch of asses with drugs I’m
than a bunch of asses with drugs I’m sure all of you have heard of patch
sure all of you have heard of patch
sure all of you have heard of patch Adams he was made famous by the movie
but it was based off on a real person
but it was based off on a real person his name was dr. hunter
his name was dr. hunter
his name was dr. hunter he started hospital planning way back in
he started hospital planning way back in
he started hospital planning way back in 1986 he believed that love and laughter
1986 he believed that love and laughter
1986 he believed that love and laughter were the only ways you can treat a
were the only ways you can treat a
were the only ways you can treat a patient and get him better much quicker
laughter all of us love and as a clown
laughter all of us love and as a clown you must understand I’m not an
you must understand I’m not an
you must understand I’m not an entertainer
entertainer
entertainer I’m not the clown from the circus but I
I’m not the clown from the circus but I
I’m not the clown from the circus but I use laughter as a tool did you know that
use laughter as a tool did you know that
use laughter as a tool did you know that as children we laugh almost 400 times a
as children we laugh almost 400 times a
as children we laugh almost 400 times a day but as we get older into the adults
day but as we get older into the adults
day but as we get older into the adults we are it reduces to 15 only 15 times a
we are it reduces to 15 only 15 times a
we are it reduces to 15 only 15 times a day so it’s not surprising when you hear
day so it’s not surprising when you hear
day so it’s not surprising when you hear that when you are at a hospital it’s
that when you are at a hospital it’s
that when you are at a hospital it’s zero you can go down to as low as zero
all of us know what a hospital is like
all of us know what a hospital is like we’ve either had the chance to be there
we’ve either had the chance to be there
we’ve either had the chance to be there as a patient yourself or to look after a
as a patient yourself or to look after a
as a patient yourself or to look after a patient be it your family your friends
patient be it your family your friends
patient be it your family your friends it is probably the worst thing that can
it is probably the worst thing that can
it is probably the worst thing that can ever happen to someone’s life it’s the
ever happen to someone’s life it’s the
ever happen to someone’s life it’s the antithesis of home it’s the opposite
antithesis of home it’s the opposite
antithesis of home it’s the opposite it’s nothing like anyone is used to it’s
it’s nothing like anyone is used to it’s
it’s nothing like anyone is used to it’s an adverse effect it’s an adverse event
an adverse effect it’s an adverse event
an adverse effect it’s an adverse event everyone is anxious and when you look at
everyone is anxious and when you look at
everyone is anxious and when you look at pediatric children they’re anxious
pediatric children they’re anxious
pediatric children they’re anxious anxious children and their anxious
anxious children and their anxious
anxious children and their anxious parents not knowing what is going to
parents not knowing what is going to
parents not knowing what is going to happen to that child not knowing what
happen to that child not knowing what
happen to that child not knowing what the child is going through this trauma
the child is going through this trauma
the child is going through this trauma and emotions high and low but most
and emotions high and low but most
and emotions high and low but most importantly the patient feels a loss of
importantly the patient feels a loss of
importantly the patient feels a loss of control he has no control of what is
control he has no control of what is
control he has no control of what is happening to his or her body or what the
happening to his or her body or what the
happening to his or her body or what the treatment is going to do to him or her
treatment is going to do to him or her
treatment is going to do to him or her and that
and that
and that makes the whole situation a lot worse
hospital planning also known as medical
hospital planning also known as medical clowning also called clown doctors it’s
clowning also called clown doctors it’s
clowning also called clown doctors it’s all essentially the same thing like I
all essentially the same thing like I
all essentially the same thing like I mentioned we use laughter as a tool it’s
mentioned we use laughter as a tool it’s
mentioned we use laughter as a tool it’s not the only thing we do and research is
not the only thing we do and research is
not the only thing we do and research is proven that it decreases the amount of
proven that it decreases the amount of
proven that it decreases the amount of painkillers and the amount of anesthesia
painkillers and the amount of anesthesia
painkillers and the amount of anesthesia are needed for procedures I would talk
are needed for procedures I would talk
are needed for procedures I would talk about it as a distraction therapy for
about it as a distraction therapy for
about it as a distraction therapy for example when a nurse or a doctor has to
example when a nurse or a doctor has to
example when a nurse or a doctor has to put in an IV line or any procedure that
put in an IV line or any procedure that
put in an IV line or any procedure that is painful the anticipation of that
is painful the anticipation of that
is painful the anticipation of that procedure is probably more painful than
procedure is probably more painful than
procedure is probably more painful than the actual procedure itself so if you
the actual procedure itself so if you
the actual procedure itself so if you can distract the attention away from it
can distract the attention away from it
can distract the attention away from it it really makes a difference and
it really makes a difference and
it really makes a difference and probably even less dramatic than it
probably even less dramatic than it
probably even less dramatic than it would be Hospital clowning is about
would be Hospital clowning is about
would be Hospital clowning is about collaboration a hospital clown can’t do
collaboration a hospital clown can’t do
collaboration a hospital clown can’t do it by herself or himself they have to
it by herself or himself they have to
it by herself or himself they have to work with the doctors with the nurses
work with the doctors with the nurses
work with the doctors with the nurses with the parents and the patient it
with the parents and the patient it
with the parents and the patient it basically involves everyone it’s a
basically involves everyone it’s a
basically involves everyone it’s a collective experience and it’s something
collective experience and it’s something
collective experience and it’s something that even though it lasts for probably
that even though it lasts for probably
that even though it lasts for probably ten or fifteen minutes it’s something
ten or fifteen minutes it’s something
ten or fifteen minutes it’s something that they’ve all experienced together
that they’ve all experienced together
that they’ve all experienced together and it lasts much longer even after they
and it lasts much longer even after they
and it lasts much longer even after they have left we give power to the patient
have left we give power to the patient
have left we give power to the patient we don’t force anything on them we don’t
we don’t force anything on them we don’t
we don’t force anything on them we don’t make them watch what we want them what
make them watch what we want them what
make them watch what we want them what we want to do we ask them they choose
we want to do we ask them they choose
we want to do we ask them they choose and they decide what they want to
and they decide what they want to
and they decide what they want to experience with us we challenge the
experience with us we challenge the
experience with us we challenge the status quo believe me when I put that
status quo believe me when I put that
status quo believe me when I put that nose on I’m not a doctor I am on the
nose on I’m not a doctor I am on the
nose on I’m not a doctor I am on the same level there is no difference
same level there is no difference
same level there is no difference between rich or poor sick or well and
between rich or poor sick or well and
between rich or poor sick or well and there’s no difference between the doctor
there’s no difference between the doctor
there’s no difference between the doctor and the patient they’re all involved and
and the patient they’re all involved and
and the patient they’re all involved and they’re all treated the same
they’re all treated the same
they’re all treated the same now clownin can be intimate with just a
now clownin can be intimate with just a
now clownin can be intimate with just a one-on-one session which requires a
one-on-one session which requires a
one-on-one session which requires a different set of skills and you have to
different set of skills and you have to
different set of skills and you have to understand its there’s a lot of
understand its there’s a lot of
understand its there’s a lot of improvisation needed because no two
improvisation needed because no two
improvisation needed because no two situations would ever be the same so we
situations would ever be the same so we
situations would ever be the same so we need to adapt so it can be as intimate
need to adapt so it can be as intimate
need to adapt so it can be as intimate is with one or as many as an entire ward
is with one or as many as an entire ward
is with one or as many as an entire ward of patients and their parents with the
of patients and their parents with the
of patients and their parents with the doctors and the nurses we need to make
doctors and the nurses we need to make
doctors and the nurses we need to make sure that this reaches a lot more
sure that this reaches a lot more
sure that this reaches a lot more hospitals whether it’s in developing
hospitals whether it’s in developing
hospitals whether it’s in developing countries or even developed countries it
countries or even developed countries it
countries or even developed countries it has spread a lot across the world after
has spread a lot across the world after
has spread a lot across the world after patch Adams started in 1986 in America
patch Adams started in 1986 in America
patch Adams started in 1986 in America it has reached almost two countries like
it has reached almost two countries like
it has reached almost two countries like Australia and New Zealand a few
Australia and New Zealand a few
Australia and New Zealand a few countries in Europe and a few in South
countries in Europe and a few in South
countries in Europe and a few in South America but there’s still a long way to
America but there’s still a long way to
America but there’s still a long way to go there are some institutions that even
go there are some institutions that even
go there are some institutions that even offer it as a paramedical course so if
offer it as a paramedical course so if
offer it as a paramedical course so if you are interested you know where to
you are interested you know where to
you are interested you know where to look
yes we do take care of the mental
yes we do take care of the mental well-being of the patient and the family
well-being of the patient and the family
well-being of the patient and the family but we also have other uses there’s a
but we also have other uses there’s a
but we also have other uses there’s a device called the incentive spirometer
device called the incentive spirometer
device called the incentive spirometer that we use for post-op care to prevent
that we use for post-op care to prevent
that we use for post-op care to prevent complications it basically is an
complications it basically is an
complications it basically is an exercise to help expand your lungs and
exercise to help expand your lungs and
exercise to help expand your lungs and prevent secretions from settling in this
prevent secretions from settling in this
prevent secretions from settling in this little boy is on a second day after an
little boy is on a second day after an
little boy is on a second day after an open cardiac surgery and he refused to
open cardiac surgery and he refused to
open cardiac surgery and he refused to do anything because he was probably in
do anything because he was probably in
do anything because he was probably in pain most of the time and wasn’t really
pain most of the time and wasn’t really
pain most of the time and wasn’t really interested in doing anything so when we
interested in doing anything so when we
interested in doing anything so when we came in we made the whole spirometer a
came in we made the whole spirometer a
came in we made the whole spirometer a really cool game it has like different
really cool game it has like different
really cool game it has like different colored balls in it so it’s like red
colored balls in it so it’s like red
colored balls in it so it’s like red yellow green and we developed a whole
yellow green and we developed a whole
yellow green and we developed a whole game for and and
game for and and
game for and and made sure that he did it and so it
made sure that he did it and so it
made sure that he did it and so it helped him so we have more than one use
helped him so we have more than one use
helped him so we have more than one use in the hospital after all the whole idea
in the hospital after all the whole idea
in the hospital after all the whole idea and the aim of a doctor and a clown is
and the aim of a doctor and a clown is
and the aim of a doctor and a clown is essentially the same we’re trying to
essentially the same we’re trying to
essentially the same we’re trying to alleviate the pain and the suffering and
alleviate the pain and the suffering and
alleviate the pain and the suffering and improve and improve their outcome who is
improve and improve their outcome who is
improve and improve their outcome who is a hospital clown it is a interesting
a hospital clown it is a interesting
a hospital clown it is a interesting question because I get that I get asked
question because I get that I get asked
question because I get that I get asked that all the time
that all the time
that all the time how can you be one do you have to be a
how can you be one do you have to be a
how can you be one do you have to be a medical doctor to be a hospital clown no
medical doctor to be a hospital clown no
medical doctor to be a hospital clown no you don’t we are professionals
you don’t we are professionals
you don’t we are professionals we are skilled either in the arts
we are skilled either in the arts
we are skilled either in the arts mostly theater music dance magic tricks
mostly theater music dance magic tricks
mostly theater music dance magic tricks all of that definitely helps but most
all of that definitely helps but most
all of that definitely helps but most importantly we’re empathetic unless you
importantly we’re empathetic unless you
importantly we’re empathetic unless you can feel what the patient is going
can feel what the patient is going
can feel what the patient is going through you will never know how they
through you will never know how they
through you will never know how they think and what they want from you we
think and what they want from you we
think and what they want from you we trained sometimes were a few weeks a few
trained sometimes were a few weeks a few
trained sometimes were a few weeks a few months or even years like I said you can
months or even years like I said you can
months or even years like I said you can go to university to become a medical
go to university to become a medical
go to university to become a medical clown and we trained to be sensitive to
clown and we trained to be sensitive to
clown and we trained to be sensitive to the hospital setting which is what makes
the hospital setting which is what makes
the hospital setting which is what makes a big difference it’s very different
a big difference it’s very different
a big difference it’s very different performing in a hospital where there’s
performing in a hospital where there’s
performing in a hospital where there’s sickness all around and there’s a height
sickness all around and there’s a height
sickness all around and there’s a height of emotions was just probably performing
of emotions was just probably performing
of emotions was just probably performing on this stage how did I become a
on this stage how did I become a
on this stage how did I become a hospital clown well my mom runs a
hospital clown well my mom runs a
hospital clown well my mom runs a theater company back home in Chennai so
theater company back home in Chennai so
theater company back home in Chennai so I was on stage ever since I was five I
I was on stage ever since I was five I
I was on stage ever since I was five I learnt music dance and theater and
learnt music dance and theater and
learnt music dance and theater and improvisation and after I became a
improvisation and after I became a
improvisation and after I became a doctor I always felt that there was
doctor I always felt that there was
doctor I always felt that there was something missing how could I blend
something missing how could I blend
something missing how could I blend these two together and that’s when this
these two together and that’s when this
these two together and that’s when this happened two and a half years ago we
happened two and a half years ago we
happened two and a half years ago we at the Little Theatre were about 11 or
at the Little Theatre were about 11 or
at the Little Theatre were about 11 or 12 actors that got trained by a hospital
12 actors that got trained by a hospital
12 actors that got trained by a hospital clown who came all the way from New York
clown who came all the way from New York
clown who came all the way from New York and we right now are the first Indian
and we right now are the first Indian
and we right now are the first Indian troupe Hospital clown troupe and we’re
troupe Hospital clown troupe and we’re
troupe Hospital clown troupe and we’re hoping to spread it across India and
hoping to spread it across India and
hoping to spread it across India and probably parts of Asia because I feel
probably parts of Asia because I feel
probably parts of Asia because I feel even though in some hospitals we only
even though in some hospitals we only
even though in some hospitals we only work probably one or two days a week
work probably one or two days a week
work probably one or two days a week it’s not enough we need to be integrated
it’s not enough we need to be integrated
it’s not enough we need to be integrated into the healthcare system as full-time
into the healthcare system as full-time
into the healthcare system as full-time employees so that we can be with that
employees so that we can be with that
employees so that we can be with that patient right from the moment he or she
patient right from the moment he or she
patient right from the moment he or she enters the hospital till the time he
enters the hospital till the time he
enters the hospital till the time he should he or she leaves that is when we
should he or she leaves that is when we
should he or she leaves that is when we will make the biggest impact I believe
will make the biggest impact I believe
will make the biggest impact I believe that how as hospital clowns
that how as hospital clowns
that how as hospital clowns we are the bridges of the gap between
we are the bridges of the gap between
we are the bridges of the gap between the doctor the healthcare system and the
the doctor the healthcare system and the
the doctor the healthcare system and the patient because you can take care of the
patient because you can take care of the
patient because you can take care of the physical well-being of a person but it’s
physical well-being of a person but it’s
physical well-being of a person but it’s not enough if you don’t look at the
not enough if you don’t look at the
not enough if you don’t look at the person as a whole and after all because
person as a whole and after all because
person as a whole and after all because of the statistics of how we laugh so
of the statistics of how we laugh so
of the statistics of how we laugh so little we could use a little laugh more
little we could use a little laugh more
little we could use a little laugh more laughter in our lives
laughter in our lives
laughter in our lives after all laughter is and will always be
after all laughter is and will always be
after all laughter is and will always be the best form of therapy so everyone
the best form of therapy so everyone
the best form of therapy so everyone laughed with me
laughed with me
laughed with me [Applause]
”
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