★Welcome to Dr.Kido's World！★

American Hospital of Paris (9)

My private and social life in Paris (1)

In the chapter “Before Arrival” I wrote the words of the future anticipation of enthusiastic young Dr. Kido. What is written is true, but there is something more, to tell the truth. Since I experienced only the worst part of the life as a physician in NYC, I always hoped to work as a real physician with respect and the financial ability in a European city. Two-year life in Paris was exactly what I wanted.

First, let me tell you about my social life as a physician.
Gilbert was an internist in his mid 60s. He had seen a lot of Japanese patients living in Paris for 10 years until my arrival here. He also began Japanese style health screening system for the employees of the Japanese corporations. Therefore, Gilbert was the best known French physician among Japanese society in Paris. He was decorated by the Japanese Government for his contribution to Japanese society. Once I started working there, it was obvious that the volume of his Japanese patients decreased. Therefore, I honestly told him that I had to take away his Japanese patients from him. Gilbert accepted my explanation and even praised my sincerity. Since then he voluntarily became my mentor at AHP. He invited me to his home on holidays, considering my situation as a temporary bachelor. Among Gilbert’s patients there were quite a few well known Japanese including several big shots in the under world. When he visited Tokyo, he dialed the number which he was given by one of the big shots and fifteen minutes later, a black Cadillac limousine with half a dozen young guys with black suits came to greet him.

Joseph was a Haitian resident doctor. Though a resident, he was in his mid 40s. He studied medicine in the US and completed residency training in Internal Medicine there. In addition, he obtained an MBA at a US business school after his medical training. With this brilliant carrier Joseph was very intelligent and thoughtful. For the first two months in Paris I was living at the dormitory at AHP. Since Joseph lived next door to my room, I often visited him to chat. I once asked him why he came to be a resident at AHP at his age after the brilliant career in US. He answered me this way, “Tom, you don’t know the fame and political power of AHP, yet. If I can practice here after the residency, I can get unimaginable merits for my career.”

Joseph, non-white from one of the poorest counties in the world had to make efforts several times more than others to be recognized. When I decided to lobby to the authorities to get my own consultation room, I asked Joseph for advice first. He replied immediately, “ Tom, AHP could build a new building thanks to the big donations from the Japanese corporations. That’s why they invited Tom here. Now you are doing pretty good job. There’s no reason what so ever for them to refuse your request. However, you should be careful. This is France, and you are a foreigner here. You should negotiate in a gentlemanly manner. Don’t be arrogant, never, but don’t compromise halfway, neither. Hey, don’t worry. You can make it. ” What he predicted was exactly what happened. We once talked about the Japanese students who came to see me as patients. I told him that many of them seem to me vagabonds rather than students. Joseph replied that only countries whose young people can enjoy this kind of privilege are Japan and USA since the start of the history. He also added that he wanted to be born in those countries.

Jean-Pierre was a surgeon in his mid 50s. He was a tall, handsome gentleman. He introduced himself to me at the hallway of AHP several days after my arrival. It was around 11 A.M. and he invited me to a lunch. I accepted it, since there was no special reason to refuse. Jean-Pierre drove me to a gorgeous social club facing Champs-Elisee, which looked like a palace. I realized it was French style social politeness from a specialist doctor to a generalist. Later I came to know that most of the doctors at AHP were the members of this kind of social clubs, and their expense was not negligible. Since this encounter with Jean-Pierre we became friends, and he instructed me as to the “dos and don’ts” of the socialization of his country. In return, I referred quite a few Japanese patients to him who required surgery.
One of my patients, a middle aged Japanese woman received a gall bladder resection by him. Next day of the surgery Jean-Pierre visited her room and talked to her “ How do you feel, Madame A?” very politely as if he did to a noble lady. Madame A reacted with a very complex expresson of joy and embarrassment at the same time.

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