The Darwin AwardsThe Darwin AwardsLessons From the Lessons From the

Shallow Shallow End of the Gene Pool End of the Gene Pool

Oregon H.F.M.A. Oregon H.F.M.A. ConferenceConference

Matthew M Eschelbach, M.S., D.O., Matthew M Eschelbach, M.S., D.O., F.A.C.E.P.F.A.C.E.P.

Medical Director, Emergency Medical Director, Emergency DepartmentDepartment

St. Charles Medical Center, Redmond, St. Charles Medical Center, Redmond, OROR

Matthew M. Matthew M. Eschelbach, D.O.Eschelbach, D.O.

meschelb@scmc.orgmeschelb@scmc.org

meschelb@stcharleshealthsysmeschelb@stcharleshealthsystem.orgtem.org

mesch @bendbroadband.commesch @bendbroadband.com

Thanks to our sponsor !!Thanks to our sponsor !!

AcknowledgementAcknowledgementTrauma SurgeonsTrauma Surgeons

Genius Genius

““Education is that Education is that which remains, if which remains, if one has forgotten one has forgotten everything one everything one learned in school.”learned in school.”

Albert Einstein Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)(1879 - 1955)

StupidityStupidity

"Only two things "Only two things are infinite, the are infinite, the universe and universe and human stupidity, human stupidity, and I'm not sure and I'm not sure about the former." about the former." -Albert Einstein-Albert Einstein

WarningWarning

These are true case histories with These are true case histories with graphic pictures intended for a graphic pictures intended for a medical audience if you are medical audience if you are squeamish or unaccustomed to seeing squeamish or unaccustomed to seeing trauma pictures ask your neighbor to trauma pictures ask your neighbor to tell you if it is safe to look. tell you if it is safe to look.

HIPPA will not be violated, many of HIPPA will not be violated, many of these patients self reported their own these patients self reported their own injuries to the media and are part of injuries to the media and are part of the public domain. the public domain.

Disclaimer Disclaimer These case histories are truly These case histories are truly

intended to teach paramedics, intended to teach paramedics, EMTs , nurses, physicians and all EMTs , nurses, physicians and all those involved in the Medicine those involved in the Medicine community.community.

Sometimes true tragedies befall our Sometimes true tragedies befall our patients and we never question, patients and we never question, in in real timereal time, what we need to do to save , what we need to do to save their lives.their lives.

Treat all patients with the respect Treat all patients with the respect they deserve.they deserve.

DisclaimerDisclaimer However, sometimes our patients are However, sometimes our patients are

truly knuckleheads and put truly knuckleheads and put themselves or others in harms way themselves or others in harms way and at the end of the day we must sit and at the end of the day we must sit back and review our treatment plan, back and review our treatment plan, protocols and interventions.protocols and interventions.

This talk is intended to examine the This talk is intended to examine the lighter side of what we handle on a lighter side of what we handle on a regular basis. Through their own fate regular basis. Through their own fate and luck, or lack thereof, our patients and luck, or lack thereof, our patients can teach us, as well as make us can teach us, as well as make us laugh. laugh.

Geniuses Among UsGeniuses Among Us

In 1953 James Watson, left, and Francis Crick, right, described the structure of the DNA molecule.

"If you really are stupid, I "If you really are stupid, I would call that a disease. would call that a disease. The lower 10 percent who The lower 10 percent who really have difficulty, even really have difficulty, even in elementary school, in elementary school, what's the cause of it? "A what's the cause of it? "A lot of people would like to lot of people would like to say, 'Well, poverty, things say, 'Well, poverty, things like that.' It probably isn't. like that.' It probably isn't. So I'd like to get rid of that, So I'd like to get rid of that, to help the lower 10 to help the lower 10 percent." percent."

James Watson, Ph.DJames Watson, Ph.D

Co-Discoverer of the Co-Discoverer of the

DNA Molecule DNA Molecule

On the concept of stupidity.On the concept of stupidity.

The Darwin Awards honor those who improve our gene pool... by removing themselves from it. These men and women gave their "all" in an effort to improve the human species. Of necessity, the honor is generally bestowed posthumously.

Famous Last Words I:

“I bet no one's ever done this before...”

Famous Last Words II

“It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

Famous Last Words III

“Watch this!”

Darwinism’s RebirthDarwinism’s Rebirth

Charles Darwin Charles Darwin Darwin, Charles Darwin, Charles

Robert (1809-1882), Robert (1809-1882), British scientist, who British scientist, who laid the foundation of laid the foundation of modern evolutionary modern evolutionary theory with his theory with his concept of the concept of the development of all development of all forms of life through forms of life through the slow-working the slow-working process of process of natural natural selectionselection. .

Charles Charles Darwin Darwin

Many people Many people of his day of his day

misunderstoomisunderstood Darwin’s d Darwin’s theoriestheories

Many people Many people continue tocontinue to

not not understand understand

HMS Beagle HMS Beagle In 1831 the HMS Beagle set forth for the coast of South America , on board was a young naturalist, Charles Darwin. Darwin observed and collected thousands of wildlife specimens Darwin noted the different adaptations that enabled animals to live in environments

.

Darwin’s ObservationsDarwin’s Observations

Rhea

Darwin’s ObservationsDarwin’s Observations

Ostrich

Darwin’s ObservationsDarwin’s Observations

Emu

What Darwin didn’t What Darwin didn’t Know and Know and

Why was it important ?Why was it important ?

Darwin was a true scientist, he spent Darwin was a true scientist, he spent most of his life experimenting and most of his life experimenting and trying to prove his theories. trying to prove his theories.

Much of what he proposed was Much of what he proposed was based on observation and theory based on observation and theory only later did other scientist’s only later did other scientist’s observations help to fortify his work. observations help to fortify his work.

He only published his work when the He only published his work when the threat of others beating him to the threat of others beating him to the punch became eminent. punch became eminent.

What Darwin What Darwin Didn't KnowDidn't Know

Continental Continental drift, drift, proposed in proposed in 1912 and 1912 and confirmed in confirmed in the 1960s, the 1960s, shows how shows how descendants descendants of a common of a common ancestor ancestor were were separated separated when when landmasses landmasses moved.moved.

Pangea

What Darwin Didn’t What Darwin Didn’t Know Know

Gregor Mendel 1822-1884

What Darwin What Darwin Didn’t KnowDidn’t Know

Natural Natural SelectioSelectio

nn

Natural Selection Natural Selection

A species must show variation.A species must show variation. Variations must be inheritable.Variations must be inheritable. Not all individuals survive to Not all individuals survive to

reproduce.reproduce.

( Nor do we want them to) ( Nor do we want them to) Some individuals cope with Some individuals cope with

selective pressures better than selective pressures better than others.others.

Natural SelectionNatural Selection

Peppered Moth in Natural Setting

Mr. Xishun, 56, an astonishing 7ft 11 inchesMr Pingping, 19 is a mere 2.ft , 3 inches high.

What’s in Your Genes?What’s in Your Genes?

Natural Selection Natural Selection is not Evolutionis not Evolution

AxiomAxiomnoun,noun,

Generally accepted Generally accepted truth : truth :

a statement or idea a statement or idea that people accept that people accept as self-evidently as self-evidently

true.true.

Axiom Number 1Axiom Number 1

Bad luck is not Bad luck is not Darwinism!! Darwinism!!

You can be stupid You can be stupid but unlucky!!but unlucky!!

Axiom Number 2 Axiom Number 2

Long life does not Long life does not guarantee wisdom.guarantee wisdom.You can be old and You can be old and

stupid! stupid!

Driving While Driving While Intoxicated knows Intoxicated knows

no age limit. no age limit.

Do not disrespect Do not disrespect the elderly, they the elderly, they may be smarter may be smarter

than you !!than you !!

Axiom Number 3 Axiom Number 3

Hair color does Hair color does effect your I.Q. effect your I.Q.

Axiom Number 4Axiom Number 4Women are smarter Women are smarter

than men!than men!

Axiom Number 5 Axiom Number 5 Stupidity knows Stupidity knows no nationality, it no nationality, it

is the same in any is the same in any language.language.

(gene pool) Lifeguard Is

Now Off Duty

All people improve the gene pool, some by birth, some by their demise.-

A. Chamberlain

Rules and EligibilityRules and Eligibility(True Darwin Awards ) (True Darwin Awards ) www.darwinawards.comwww.darwinawards.com

The candidate must be eliminated The candidate must be eliminated from the gene pool.from the gene pool.

The candidate must show an The candidate must show an outstanding misapplication of outstanding misapplication of common sense.common sense.

The event must be verified.The event must be verified. The candidate must be capable of The candidate must be capable of

sound judgment.sound judgment. The candidate must be the cause The candidate must be the cause

of his own demise.of his own demise.

Rules and Eligibility Rules and Eligibility Dr. Eschelbach’s AwardsDr. Eschelbach’s Awards

The candidate does not have to The candidate does not have to be eliminated from the gene pool be eliminated from the gene pool but must make the medical but must make the medical system strain their minds to system strain their minds to prevent them from doing so. prevent them from doing so.

We in the E.D.must learn from We in the E.D.must learn from their stupidity.their stupidity.

Sound Emergency Medicine Sound Emergency Medicine response must help them prevent response must help them prevent their own demisetheir own demise. .

When will people Stop When will people Stop being so stupid ??being so stupid ??

Dr Eschelbach’s List of Dr Eschelbach’s List of Common Denominators for Common Denominators for

Darwinism Darwinism Alcohol-Alcohol- Drugs-Drugs- Snakes-Snakes- Firearms-or FireFirearms-or Fire Exploding things/ FireExploding things/ Fire Cars, trucks, motorcycles Cars, trucks, motorcycles

or any moving thing with or any moving thing with wheelswheels

Males Males History of IncarcerationHistory of Incarceration

Case Case PresentationsPresentations

Darwin AwardsDarwin Awardsand the Winner and the Winner

is…is…

DarwinismDarwinismIs it in Your Is it in Your

Genes???Genes???

The End The End