TURBO CHOOK

My colleague and friend Dr. Rizk Abu Shaaira was killed yesterday at work when Israel, backed by the US as always, bombed the surgical recovery room at Nasser Medical Complex. Two of his colleagues were badly injured, and many patients were hurt and killed. Dr. Rizk is featured on the original poster for the documentary American Doctor, standing to my right as we did a redo laparotomy on a disaster abdomen. Dr. Rizk was one of those surgeons we describe as "super enthusiastic". On rounds he would jump at the opportunity to change a dressing, clean a wound, or pull a drain. He always had an answer to any question anyone asked. He embodied the surgical wisdom that "a chance to cut is a chance to cure." Dr. Rizk's shocking murder is yet another reminder of why we must get control of our country. Our government has no right to force us to subsidize the mass murder of doctors and children, not in Palestine and not anywhere.