07/29/2020 - 11:17
- Clarín.com
- Society
At 77, before committing suicide, René Favaloro wrote seven letters. For his relatives, for his girlfriend and his colleagues. But in the last one, he seems to have wanted to tell all of Argentina why he gave up . It was his farewell, on Saturday, July 29, 2000, at 2:30 p.m. In front of the bathroom mirror, he shot himself in the heart. That text, 20 years after its tragic end, is just as poignant. Here, the full content.
To my dear family and friends:
If you read my letter of resignation from the Cleveland Clinic, it is clear that my return to Argentina (after having achieved a prominent place in cardiovascular surgery) was due to my eternal commitment to my country . I never lost my roots. I returned to work in teaching, research, and medical care. The first stage in the Guemes Sanatorium showed that we immediately organized the residency in cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, in addition to postgraduate courses at all levels.
We also gave importance to clinical research in which the majority of the members of our group participated. In terms of healthcare, we demand a number of beds for the indigent . Thus, hundreds of patients were operated free of charge. Most of our patients came from social work. The sanatorium had a contract with the most important ones of that time.
The relationship with the sanatorium was very clear: the fees, wherever they came from, were ours; the hospitalization, of the sanatorium (without a doubt the biggest slice). We paid the residences and the secretaries with the fees and our tickets were distributed among the doctors proportionally.
I never allowed a single weight to be touched that was not ours. Despite the directors assuring that there were no returns, I knew that there were. Occasionally, at the request of its director, he greeted the trade unionists on duty, who appreciated our work. This was our only contact.
In the mid-1970s, we began organizing the Foundation. First with the help of SDDRA, we created the basic research department that has given us so much satisfaction and then the construction of the Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery. When it came into office, I wrote the ten commandments that must be strictly adhered to, based on the ethical guidelines that have always been with me.
The quality of our work, based on the incorporated technology plus the task of the selected professionals, meant that we did not lack work, but we had to continually fight with the prevailing corruption in medicine (part of the tremendous corruption that has contaminated our country in all levels without limits of any nature).
We have consistently refused to break ethical guidelines, as a consequence, we never gave a single weight of return. Thus, large social works did not send or send their patients to the Institute.
What I would have to narrate from the innumerable interviews with the trade unionists on duty! Corrupted manga that live at the expense of the workers and basically eat with the money from social work that corresponds to medical care.
Favaloro, his desperate farewell letter: "I am tired of fighting, this corrupt society has defeated me." (Archive)
The same goes for PAMI. This can be certified by doctors in my country who, in order to survive, must agree to participate in the system implemented throughout the country. Just one example: PAMI has an old debt to us (I believe since 94 or 95) of 1,900,000 pesos; we would have collected it in 48 hours if we had accepted the returns that were asked of us (not surprisingly not directly to me).
If we had accepted the prevailing conditions due to the corruption of the system (which has been increasing in recent years) we should have a hundred more beds. We would not be able to supply all the demand.
Anyone who wants to deny that all this is true accepts that the fundamental principle of the free choice of the doctor rules in Argentina, which would end the well-off on duty. The same goes for private patients (including those in prepaid medicine) the doctor who sends these patients by the famous ana-ana, you know, wait, receive a juicy participation from the surgeon .
Many years ago I must hear that Favaloro does not operate anymore! Where does this infusion come from? Very simple: the patient is studied. Conclusion, your cardiologist tells you that you must have an operation. The patient accepts and expresses his wishes that I operate on him. "But how? Don't you know that Favaloro has not been operating for a long time?" "I am going to recommend a surgeon of real value, don't worry." The surgeon "of real value", in addition to his professional capacity, will return to the client cardiologist 50% of the fees!
Several of these patients have come to my office despite the "indications" of their cardiologist. "Doctor, are you still operating?", And once again I must explain that yes, I continue to do so with the same enthusiasm and responsibility as always . Many of these cardiologists are of national and international prestige. They attend the Congresses of the American College or the American Heart and then yes, there they offer me all kinds of congratulations and hugs every time I have to expose some "lecture" of significance. This was the case when the Paul D. White lecture in Dallas, dozens of Argentine cardiologists hugged me, some with tears in their eyes. But here, they reinsert themselves into the "system" and money is what interests them most.
Corruption has reached levels I never thought I'd see. Prestigious institutions like the Cardiovascular Institute Buenos Aires, with excellent medical professionals, send well-trained employees who visit cardiologist doctors in their offices. There they explain in detail the mechanisms of return and the percentages that they will receive not only for surgery, non-invasive diagnostic methods (Holter echo, camera and etc., etc.), catheterizations, angioplasties, etc. etc., are included.
It's not the only institution. Doctors from the Foundation have shown me the sheets that they leave with everything very well explained. When the case comes, once the patient has undergone surgery, the same trained personnel will visit the cardiologist again, explain in detail "the economic operation" and deliver the corresponding envelope!
Favaloro, in a photo in his office. (Archive)
The current situation of the Foundation is desperate, millions of pesos to be collected from the work carried out, including high-risk patients that we cannot refuse. It's easy to say "no beds available."
Our medical oath forbids it.
These patients demand a high cost rarely recognized by social works . To this are added debts from all sides, which correspond to the construction and equipment of the ICyCC, the suppliers, the DGI, the banks, the doctors with arrears of several months. All our projects falter and more and more everything gets complicated ana-ana.
In the United States, large medical institutions can carry out their healthcare, teaching and research for the donations they receive.
The top five medical schools receive more than $ 100 million each! Here, not even dreaming.
I took steps at the IDB that helped us in the initial stage and then publicized our institute in several of its publications as one of its achievements. I sent four letters to Enrique Iglesias, asking for help (they throw so much money overboard in this Latin America!), I am still waiting for an answer. It handles billions of dollars, but for an institution that has trained hundreds of doctors scattered throughout our country and throughout Latin America, there is no answer.
How is the social value of our teaching task measured?
There is no doubt that being honest in this corrupt society has its price. In the short or long term they make you pay.
Most of the time I feel lonely . In that letter of resignation from the C. Clinic, he told Dr. Effler that he knew in advance that he was going to have to fight and reminded him that Don Quixote was Spanish. The fight has undoubtedly been very uneven.
The Foundation's project falters and begins to crack.
We have had several meetings, my closest collaborators, some of them comrades in struggle from our well-known Colegio Nacional de La Plata, advise me that in order to save the Foundation we must join the “system”.
Yes to the return, yes to the ana-ana.
"We will put people to organize everything." There are "specialists" who know how to do it. "You must step aside. We will clarify that you do not know anything, that you are not aware ”.
"You must understand if you want to save the Foundation."
Who will believe that I am not aware!
At this time and at this age, ending the ethical principles that I received from my parents, my teachers and professors is extremely difficult for me. I can not change, I prefer to disappear.
Joaquín V. González wrote the optimism lesson that was given to us upon receiving us: "No one has defeated me." I can not say the same. This corrupt society that controls everything has defeated me.
I am tired of receiving tributes and praise at the international level. A few days ago I was included in the select group of legends of the millennium in cardiovascular surgery. Last year I had to participate in several countries from Sweden to India always listening to the same thing. "The legend, the legend!"
Perhaps the capital sin that I have committed, here in my country, was to always express aloud my feelings, my criticisms, I insist, in this privileged society, where a few enjoy to the point of satiety, while the majority live in misery and poverty. despair. All this is not forgiven, on the contrary, it is punished.
I am comforted by having cared for my patients without distinction of any kind. My collaborators know of my inclination for the poor, which comes from my distant years in Jacinto Arauz. I am tired of fighting and fighting, galloping against the wind as Don Ata said.
I can not change.
It was not an easy decision but thoughtful.
Do not talk of weakness or courage.
The surgeon lives with death, is his inseparable companion, with her I go hand in hand. I just hope this act is not made into a comedy. I ask journalism to have a little mercy. I'm quiet.
Once in an academic act in the USA he introduced me as a good man who is still a rural doctor. Forgive me, but I think, it's true. I hope you remember me like that.
In these days I have sent desperate letters to national, provincial, business entities, without receiving an answer.
A crisis committee with external advice has started operating at the Foundation. Yesterday the first layoffs began to occur. Some, few, have been faithful and dedicated employees. Monday could not face.
To my family in particular, to my dear nephews, to my collaborators, to my friends, remember that I reached 77 years. Do not let up, you have the obligation to continue fighting at least until you reach the same age, which is no small feat. Once again I reiterate the obligation to cremate myself immediately without wasting time and throw my ashes in the mountains near Jacinto Arauz, there in La Pampa.
It is terminally prohibited to practice religious or civil ceremonies.
A hug to all.
René Favaloro July 29-2000 - 2.30 p.m.
