As a doctor with cancer, i have opinions on opinions. Alcoholics anonymous aa is an international mutual aid fellowship with the stated purpose of enabling its members to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety. There is also some brief writing by bill wilson, the founder of alcoholics anonymous. But as exproblem drinkers, we can say that his explanation makes good sense. Provided to youtube by cdbaby the doctors opinion alcoholics anonymous alcoholics anonymous. The doctors opinion we of alcoholics anonymous believe that the reader will be interested in the medical estimate of the plan of recovery describedi nt his book. You can also hear our thursday big book study recordings at. Following the forewords, there appears a section called the doctors opinion. This site is neither endorsed nor approved by alcoholics anonymous world services, inc nor, does any information on this site represent the opinion of alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. Silkworth s original statement, there have been added, in the. Alcoholics anonymous bill wilson, aa cofounder 1965 international aa convention held in toronto 37. Convincing testimony must surely come from medical men who have had experience with the sufferings of our members and have witnessed our return to health. Preface aa big book preface aa big book big book of aa alcoholics anonymous doctor s opinion how it works aa preamble alcoholism recovery 4th edition 3rd edition 2nd edition alcohol allergy rehabilitation of alcoholics dr. Her oncologist, whom i knew from the time i was 9 years old, was her doctor for most of that time.
Nov 05, 2015 provided to youtube by cdbaby the doctors opinion alcoholics anonymous alcoholics anonymous. As a nontreating doctor your role is to perform a medical assessment and provide an impartial medical opinion to the third party who has employed or contracted. The doctors opinion an explanation of addictive illness found in the big book of alcoholics anonymous dawn farm lecture series november 15, 2011 2. In the course of his third treatment he acquired certain ideas concerning a possible means of recovery. Prejudice and bias distort our viewpoints no matter how robust our scholarship or how pure and uncluttered our thinking. The preface and foreword describe the history of the big book and its role in the alcoholics anonymous program. Aa promises the aa big book 12step promises of recovery. If read in conjunction with chapter 2, there is a solution, you will have before you a range of typical characterisitics of the chronic alcoholic and probably enough information to make your. Chang is a medical practitioner and was a nonalcoholic trustee of the general service board of alcoholics anonymous.
Convincing testimony must surely come from medical men who have had experience with the sufferings of our members and have. Opinions are like assholes, after all everybodys got one. The doctors opinion the doctors opinion contains two letters written by william d. Thank god for the doctors opinion in helping me open my eyes. This is why, as a group critical illness cover policyholder you have access to the. The reasons a doctor may dismiss his or her patient are. Bill w wrote and we must never forget that it was dr silkworth who wrote the introduction to the first edition of alcoholics anonymous, giving the volume medical standing. Since the first edition appeared, in 1939, it has helped millions of men and women recover from alcoholism. The doctors opinion w e ofalcoholics anonymous believe that the reader will be interested in the medical esti mate of the plan of recovery described in this book. Towns hospital for drug and alcohol addictions in new york city in the 1930s, during which time bill wilson, a future cofounder of alcoholics anonymous a.
We, of alcoholics anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. Progress for marginalized communities is a pendulum that swings in both directions, but ultimately lands on freedom. The doctors appraisal of the program suggested in the book lends authority to what the authors have to say. Its faithbased 12step program dominates treatment in the united states. If you have an allergy to something, it would always be indicated or manifested by some physical reaction. We of alcoholics anonymous believe that the reader will be interested in the medical esti mate of the plan of recovery described in. Apr 20, 2020 aa was founded by bill wilson and his physician, doctor bob smith in 1935 and eventually grew to include two more groups by 1939. These transcripts are not meant to be a replacement for the big book, but are an aid in the study of the program of recovery, found in the big book of alcoholics anonymous.
When i am disturbed, it is because i find some person, place, thing or situation some fact of my life unacceptable to me, and i can find no serenity until i accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being. As a general rule, the violation of a public duty, enjoined by law for the. Following the forewords, there appears a section called the doctor s opinion. Jan 24, 2020 the american medical association has established guidelines regarding when a doctor may fire a patient, based on its code of ethics. Alcoholics anonymous is the life changing program formed by two desperate alcoholics in 1935. When faced with a medical problem you need answers aviva. The personal stories section has been omitted from this version. Miracles in progress 12 step recovery forums alcoholics anonymous alcoholics anonymous the doctor s opinion study questions. The text of alcoholics anonymous the anonymous press. Aug 05, 20 in my opinion, calling alcoholism an allergy is a good comparison, but it does break down if you push the analogy too far.
It explains many things for which we cannot otherwise account. An explanation of addictive illness found in the big. When faced with a major medical decision, it can be difficult for patients to determine when its appropriate to seek a second opinion. P11 doctors opinion group is meeting online twice a week.
Frequently asked questions abstinence afflicted aggregate alcohol alcoholic alcoholics anonymous alcoholism all addictions allergy amends anonymous atheist audio avocation big book big book meeting bills story bill w. We can trust the opinion of a physician with qualifications such as these. Idaa international doctors in alcoholics anonymous home. My life as asober alcoholic and subsequent study of aa through living its principles in my daily life. These conditions cover all of your rights and responsibilities as a passenger on flights operated by american airlines. William duncan silkworth henceforth be removed from all printings of the big book. The doctors opinion study questions alcoholics anonymous. We demand that the chapter the doctors opinion of the.
The book alcoholics anonymous, referred to on the dust cover as the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous, contains 575 pages. We as laymen have a basic understanding and definition for the word allergy. In my opinion, calling alcoholism an allergy is a good comparison, but it does break down if you push the analogy too far. To assist, american airlines has business relationships with thirdparty vendors, for example, bcbs, uhc, and webmd health services.
Alcoholics anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. In the doctors opinion alcoholism is described as both a mental and physical condition, and any description that leaves out the physical factor is incomplete. Convincingt estimonym ustsu relyco me from medical men who have had experience with the sufferings of our members and have witnessed our return to health. But researchers have debunked central tenets of aa doctrine and found dozens of.
Direct quotes from the big book are found in italics and are set off by quotation marks. The irrationality of alcoholics anonymous the atlantic. At american airlines, we fly over borders across the country and the world to connect people and communities. The doctor s opinion the doctor s opinion contains two letters written by william d. Alcoholics anonymous aa was founded in 1935 by bill wilson known as bill w. In health care, statistical illiteracy is typically presented as a problem faced by.
The doctors opinion on alcoholism revisited november 2011. Silkworth elaborates on the disease concept of alcoholism. Over the years, the 12 steps have been adapted by other self. Convincing testimony must surely come from medical men who have had experience with the sufferings of our. A wellknown doctor, chief physician at a nationally. Read from aa big book, the doctors opinion, page xxviii, adapted to compulsive overeating. Opinions differ significantly from assholes, in that, yours should be constantly and thoroughly examined. This phenomenon, as we have suggested, may be the manifestation of an allergy which differentiates these people, and sets them apart as a distinct entity. Personal stories, some of which change with each new edition, make up twothirds of the book. Some people get over allergies, but we learn later in the big book, that alcoholics never get over alcoholism.
Best doctors second medical opinion employee guide. This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. When, and how, to ask for a second medical opinion. William silkworth wrote the letters in the chapter titled the doctors opinion in the book. This also has been kept intact, just as it was originally written in 1939 by the late dr. The doctors opinion the doctors nightmare spiritual experience. The big book bb notations are to page and paragraph, as in 64. After the foreword is a section called the doctors opinion, which details the observations and beliefs of dr. This history begins with the group s early struggles and continues through its worldwide growth. The doctors opinion in late 1934 i attended a patient who, though he had been a competent businessman of good earning capacity, was an alcoholic of a type i had come to regard as hopeless. Silkworths original statement, there have been added, in the. Click on the attachment below to download an powerpoint presentation that covers the main points from alcoholics anonymous foreward, the doctors opinion, and pp. As an item of aa trivia the doctors opinion began as page 1 in the 1st edition and was not.
Nontreating doctors performing medical council of new zealand. We believe, and so suggested a few years ago, that the action of alcohol on these chronic alcoholics is a manifestation of an allergy. We of alcoholics anonymous believe that the reader will be interested in the medical estimate of the plan ofrecovery described in this book. Only 164 pages, the first third of the book, specifically outline the aa way of life. Reading guide for the doctors opinion amethyst recovery center. In addition, many states have laws about the circumstances under which a doctor may terminate a patient relationship. Remember that no individual member of aa is qualified to speak for the fellowship, except with the endorsement of the general services offices of alcoholics anonymous. Alcoholics anonymous has no opinion on it, as most members will tell anyone who asks. You may choose to share the information with your doctor and other medical professionals. May 27, 2012 my mother died of breast cancer in 2005 after living with the disease for nearly 20 years. Mar 30, 2020 the tricounty intergroup offices primary aim is to assist our local groups in carrying the message of a.
Do not answer the questions in the rest of the book. The doctors opinion gives a brief description of the phenomenon of craving that alcoholics develop when they ingest alcohol that most other people dont. Forward progress ebbs and flows in every social justice movement. As laymen, our opinion as to its soundness may, of course, mean little. The doctors opinion on alcoholism revisited november 2011 1. For instance, say you are allergic to strawberries and you eat them. This is the official website of the general service office g. Rely upon the twelve traditions the long form for clarification of what aa is and what aa is not. Videos or graphic images may not be downloaded, copied or duplicated without the express written permission of alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. The doctors theory that we have an allergy to alcohol interests us.
Provide examples of relationships that were tied up with money. Alcoholics anonymous, perth, western australia aa 24 hour. A sister ignatia gavin, a tiny irishamerican nun, helped initiate medical treatment for alcoholics in akron. Alcoholics anonymous has no opinion on outside issues. With this epoch making decision, doctors and hospitals became aware of the fact that. International doctors in alcoholics anonymous idaa is a worldwide fellowship of more than 9,900 healthcare professionals and their families who strive to help one another to achieve and maintain recovery from addictions. Our reference for this study of the 12 steps is the first 103 pages of alcoholics anonymous, fourth edition, the basic text xi. Choose a basic or comprehensive check with up to 206 points tested.
What is the doctors opinion from the alcoholics big book. The book alcoholics anonymous, aka the big book, is the basic text for the aa program of sobriety. To many recovered alcoholics, this section of the big book is considered to be the most important as it describes alcoholism in terms that make sense to the real alcoholic. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.
Main points from alcoholics anonymous foreward, the. Opinion introduction to alcoholics anonymous, what a. Providing this service and making the world a smaller, more inclusive place, is a huge part of who we are. Membership is open to doctorate level health care providers, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists, or to those in training for. But, as australian sage tim minchin rightly observed in a commencement address in perth. We the people demand one of the three following things of alcoholics anonymous world services, inc 1. Jacqueline changs paper given to the national workshop for health liaison in york in 1998 and published in the winter 1999 edition of the aa news. Tricounty intergroup office aa information for the lowcountry. It is estimated that during her career, sister ignatia helped over 10,000 alcoholics. Helping doctors and patients make sense of health statistics. The sharing of health information between these companies is permitted by regulation. The doctors opinion we of alcoholics anonymous believe that the reader will be interested in the medical estimate of the plan of recovery described in this book. I suppose the doctors opinion is a medical assessment of the causes, effects and symptoms of alcoholism, as manifested in a particular type of alcoholic.