MEDICAL CLOWNS

Dr Ankita D Patil
IInd Yr PG Student

CLOWNS
Comic performers
providing humor

What Are Medical

Clowns?
Medical Clowns provide Clown Care
or Hospital Clowning
A form of special medical care to
deliver humor to patients to build up
their physical and emotional health
Mainly used for pediatric patients

A famous quote by Dr Hunter

Doherty "PatchAdams, adoctorclown American Physician:
Role of a clown and a physician is the same:
To elevate the possible and to relieve
suffering."

How is this done?

Doctors/Paramedical Staff dress up as
clowns
Use skills like magic, playing pranks,
music,storytelling
Help patients, children in having their
daily dose of fun and recreation.

Why this form of medical care?

Helps patients deal with the varied
set of emotions like fear, anxiety of
being in a hospital, boredom ,
dullness,etc
Provides a Hospital friendly
environment
Overcomes White Coat Syndrome
Makes the patients more comfortable
while interacting with doctors

How this works?

Laughter is a Wonder Drug
Laughter
Raises Endorphin
levels (natural
painkiller)

Reduces
serum cortisol
levels
Boosts
immunity by
raising T cell
levels

Combats
stress

Benefits to Health Care

System
Patients are more comfortable and
cooperative while eliciting History
and doing an examination, hence
help in reaching diagnoses easily
Open out freely about their illness in
front of the doctors
Better follow in OPDs
Better response to treatment

History
In 1986 Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit in New
York was the first program launched of this kind
Involved a group of professional clowns trained
extensively in hospital procedures, circus skills,
and make rounds as "clown doctors
Similar Programs used all over the world in
countries like Australia, New
Zealand,USA,Canada,Europe

History
Dr Hunter Doherty "Patch" Adams is an
American physician
Founded the Gesundheit! Institutein 1971
Each year he organizes a group of volunteers
from around the world to travel to various
countries where they dress as clownsin an effort
to bring humour to patients
The Gesundheit! Institute involves the concept of
"humanitarianclowning"
Uses the theme of laughter as an integral
element of effective doctoral care.

Medical Clowns in India

PGI Chandigarh is the first ever
institution to adopt this concept
Every week ,children and their
parents at the Advanced Pediatrics
Centre (APC) of this institute are
greeted by 'Mr Ha Ha' and 'Ms He He'
- as the clown doctors are called
Removed fear and made children
more comfortable at the hospital

Conclusion
The concept of Medical Clowns can
be definitely a good step towards
improving the physical and emotional
health of patients
Has a positive benefit towards their
families too
Should be considered as a form of
care at various institutes

THANK YOU