One of the Good Guys

James G. Fausone

Veterans Disability Lawyer

Dr. Michael Paletta, the chief medical director of Hospice of Michigan and a retired Air Force medical officer, knows there are other ways a doctor can impact a life than simply with medicine.

Earlier in the month, Dr. Paletta was called to the house of an elderly man who had ‘given up’ after his numerous trips to the ER and doctors telling him there was no more they could do. After walking into the room and introducing himself, Dr. Paletta didn’t ask about the man’s medicine regimen, his recent ER trips, or why he was refusing care; he simply got to know him. 

Veteran to veteran, Dr. Paletta learned that the elderly man, Don, was a WWII veteran who had been a crewman in the B17 bomber. During the course of their conversation, Dr. Paletta and Don reminisced about the ones they’d lost, the ones they’d loved, and formed a bond that most of us will never know, in less than an hour’s time.

After the talk, Don’s daughter told Dr. Paletta that it was the first time he’d spoken to anyone in a week and hadn’t even told his family most of the war stories Dr. Paletta had just heard. Ten days later, Don passed away in peace.

Dr. Paletta has a hard time explaining the sacred space around someone in the final moments of life, but knows that he explored that space with Don during their encounter.

Dr. Paletta is a supporter of LHFV and is also a former comrade of Brig. Gen. Carol Ann Fausone.  Dr. Paletta has reviewed cases for us and provides valuable medical opinions.  He is one of the good guys.

To learn more and see the original article, please visit: http://www.freep.com/article/20120527/OPINION05/205270491/Guest-commentary-A-veteran-s-sacred-space-at-life-s-end