FIRST, DO NO HARM, INC.
Website:
doctorfirstdonoharm.com
(480)381-4306 and ask for Dr. Reuben
Mailing address: 20660 N. 40th
St., #1023, Phoenix, Arizona 85050
What is
our purpose?
There is a dual purpose to the founding of First, Do No Harm, Inc.,
a nonprofit corporation chartered in Arizona. Our foremost goal is to help individuals improve their health
care decision making. In other words, we will assist individuals and families by reevaluating their medical problems or issues.
If need be, we will review medical records and gather information from other medical providers. We will explain, in
detail, what the possible options are in regards to further medical treatment and their potential complications.
We are not attempting to supplant your own doctor, or to subvert him, but rather to help him end up helping you.
Thus, we will not be able to provide any medical care such as surgery, prescription medicines, or alternative medical
interventions.
In addition
to helping individuals with medical problems, we can also help with medical insurance issues regarding coverage for treatment,
and even issues relating to disability insurance.
A second
purpose is to provide an outlet for retired, semi-retired, or other inactive doctors and professional health workers. These
men and women, with literally centuries of accumulated wisdom and understanding of medical issues, now have a forum in which
they can provide, either directly, or through consultation with our active staff, this information to you who have dire need
of such information.
Why the
name?
First,
Do No Harm, from the Latin, primum non nocere, is a maxim which has been taught to all physicians from time immemorial.
It is not, as commonly assumed, a part of the 2500 year old Hippocratic Oath, but is a teaching of the Hippocratic
method, according to medical historians—and the modern 2008 method too.
This
phrase, which must seem self-evident, that is—if you cannot help the patient, at least do not harm him unnecessarily.
Unfortunately the concept is too often cast aside in a mad rush by both physician, who should know better, and by the patient
who demands rapid treatment for his time and money.
Thus,
we are not advocating a new policy here; rather we are attempting to put prudence back into the doctor patient relationship,
where it always belongs.
Who might need our services?
We offer
our services to anyone who might need them, regardless of the ability to pay. Most people are content with
their choice of physician, and respect the opinions he or she renders on most matters. However, there are
many who have only a passing relationship with their medical doctor, or are not secure in their relationships with medical
personnel. Others have been given a variety of choices in terms of diagnosis or treatment for their particular
ailment. Still others have personal issues with their medical providers, attributing malignant motives
to them—such as improper diagnosis, financial gain, or the like.
In
rare cases only, is the problem of poor doctor-patient relationship related to these latter diabolical issues.
In the vast majority of cases, conflict and misunderstanding arise predominantly from secondary causes such as misunderstanding,
haste, and other human frictions.
We can overcome
some, but by no means all, of these problems by reevaluating all the relevant facts and feelings.
What is the background of the founders of this corporation?
Tadeusz Zakrzewski, MD was born in Poland before WWII, lived through
the Nazi regime there, witnessing their atrocities, and then lived and studied medicine during the Soviet Communist oppression
which followed. He was already a specialist in pediatric and adult cardiology when he came to Canada for a fellowship in the
1960’s, following which he did residencies in Chicago and Honolulu. He practiced cardiology and internal
medicine at the Phoenix Heart Stress Institute from 1973 through his retirement from active practice in 1997.
However, Dr. Z, as he is called for obvious reasons, has never stopped his love of medical study and he attends
meetings and seminars around the country. He is a regular attendee at Mayo Hospital’s weekly conferences,
and is in communication with medical experts of all interest throughout the world. Dr. Z, maintains a vigorous schedule, and
is a firm believer and practitioner of a healthy lifestyle and overall preventive medicine. In addition, he has long been
active in helping physicians and to help them to help their patients in a variety of innovative ways.
Howard Reuben, MD first came to Arizona in 1971 as an intern at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Later training qualified him as board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology, and he operated The Reuben Clinic
through 1986 Since 1992 he has held Arizona medical license no. 21110, and has involved himself in numerous and varied activities
within the medical field.
How do we get paid for our services?
We are a nonprofit corporation but we do have
legitimate costs, some of which are quite substantial. We use licensed and retired physicians to counsel
the public and to review voluminous records.
The fees charged are based upon financial ability to pay. First time, in person,
consultation fee is $25.00. No one is ever turned away for financial reasons, though some may be refused on the basis
of intentional misuse of services, or if we feel we cannot help at all.
Other funds may be raised through donations or grants
as may be appropriate.
What about retired or semi-retired physicians who wish to help?
We are always open to the help of physicians who wish to donate time,
money, or expertise. Health care professionals who have themselves seen the variety of medical issues which can afflict people,
can offer a perspective that is often lacking in the modern, harried waiting rooms of clinics, hospitals or doctors offices.
Any interested physician, whether retired or not, licensed at present or not, is encouraged to contact us at any time.
How do you contact us or make use of our services?
The easiest way is to contact Dr. Reuben at
(480)381-4306, or email drreuben@doctorfirstdonoharm.com.