The Mayo Clinic, Faith, Hope and Science

Everyone says, "The Mayo is the best, right?" It may have been at one point. The spirit in which it was created was certainly a giving and collaborative spirit. But the "best" is still saved for the wealthy and the famous first. The Mayo was discovered to be turning away patients receiving medical assistance in Minnesota, even though legally they aren't supposed to be because they receive funding from the state of Minnesota. As far as treating rare diseases goes, I have seven. After getting referrals from five different doctors while I was living in Minnesota to be seen at the Mayo, the Mayo said in a letter that they would not accept me as a patient because I was "too rare." In fact, I'm not allowed to be seen there at all. I went later just to have my blood drawn for a test, not to see a doctor, and they removed me from the roster after I signed in because of the ban. It isn't just me; my cousin's friend had to move to another state to get her double lung transplant for her rare disease because the Mayo didn't want her as a patient. Another friend who actually lives in Rochester was also banned for being rare. They have great success stats if they turn away patients. So the "hope" portion of this is completely false, unless you can hope to be easy, wealthy or famous.

Certainly would have expected better from Burns. Struggles to sustain a thin story for two full hours and ends up coming across as a filmstrip running on loop in a company museum that everyone can safely ignore. Disturbingly blurs the lines between the Mayo brothers' laudable social justice ideals behind the founding of the Clinic and the corporate juggernaut it is today.

I never knew the story of the founding of this remarkable institution. It amazes me that a group of Catholic sisters literally made this happen. Additionally, it was remarkable to see a modern documentary be brave enough to include faith (especially Catholicism) and its fruits so prominently along side cutting edge science, and openly declaring that it was this faith that was the seed that ultimately yielded this scientific juggernaut and the fantastic results they achieve when others fail. Religion and science are both more powerful when they are joined together on the same team. Both have critical roles to play and this documentary tells that story surprisingly well and without apology or qualification. I speak from experience as a faithful Catholic who beat very bad odds in a battle with cancer, which was treated by a similarly gifted group of scientists at Dana Farber in Boston. Kudos to Mr. Ken Burns. I'm so glad I watched this and encourage everyone else to as well!

I disagree whole-heartedly with a reviewer who claimed this is basically a commercial for The Mayo Clinic. If you've ever lost someone to cancer and lost your hope for the mere possibility that treatment can EVER have positive outcomes, you need to see this film. Though familiar with the Mayo Clinic, I was never aware of the altruistic nature of the Mayo brothers, the Sisters of Saint Mary's Hospital and the early days of medical treatment and the nursing field. The FACTS of this documentary could have been presented to me..... and completely lost on me, but the storytelling of Ken Burns brings them to light in a way that is so engaging and compelling. I never knew the role that race played in healthcare.... or that The Mayo Clinic pioneered the miles of conveyor belts that allowed easy access to medical records..... or the reason why early hospitals were so architecturally refined and beautifully built specimens of structure. My cynicism was released with the knowledge that every physician has a "personal cemetery in the back of their minds" .......and the new mother with Melanoma of the eye, who faced the possibility of voluntary termination of her pregnancy to slow the progression of her cancer but was spared that decision with a revolutionary treatment that spared her baby AND her eye. I appreciated Tom Brokaw's perspective on how clueless Washington is in regulating healthcare--- but the hope for change is spelled out in the opening quote "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." The path to enlightenment seldom happens with the facts being simply delivered..... but with STORYTELLING, like this we can change the world! BRAVO KEN BURNS and everyone who contributed!!

(Flash Review)

The nation needs to follow the Mayo's Vision as it truly puts people over profits. Not that profits aren't important but their passion to give patients the best possible best care is refreshing. The documentary does a nice job of blending historical chronology with modern patients health troubles and how Mayo attempted to cure them with unique approaches. Many of the unique or first of a kind cures are showcased. The vision of the original Mayo family is the underlying focus and is very impressive. One of the key factors that is still in practice today are that the Mayo Staff are salaried rather than paid by the quantity of patients or services they provide; needed or not.