DR.
GOOD SAM

Topics: Brotherly Love; Caring; Christians; Compassion; Good Deeds; Great Commandment; Integrity; Involvement; Ministry; Outreach; Sacrifice; Service; Talents; Unselfishness

References: Matthew 9:36; 25:14–30; 28:19–20; Luke 10:29–37; 19:11–27; Romans 12:6–9; 1 Corinthians 4:2; James 4:17; 1 Peter 4:10

Dr. Scott Kurtzman, chief of surgery at Waterbury Hospital, was on his way to deliver an 8:00 a.m. lecture when he witnessed one of the worst crashes in Connecticut history. A dump truck, whose driver had lost control, flipped on its side and skidded into oncoming traffic. The resulting accident involved twenty vehicles; four people died.

Kurtzman immediately shifted into trauma mode. He worked his way through the mangled mess of people and metal, calling out, “Who needs help?”

After about ninety minutes, when all sixteen victims had been triaged and taken to area hospitals, Kurtzman climbed back into his car, drove to the medical school, and gave his lecture—two hours late.

Over the years, Kurtzman has stopped at a half dozen crashes and assisted at three. “A person with my skills simply can’t drive by someone who’s injured,” says Kurtzman. “I refuse to live my life that way.”

—Hal Carp, “Roadside E.R.,” Reader’s Digest (August 2006)