Patch Adams is an inspiring movie which is based on the life story of Dr. Hunter Adams. Hunter is voluntarily hospitalized in a mental institution when he became actively suicidal. He finds the joy of helping people in the hospital. That experience brings him to determine to be a doctor. While being a medical student, Patch, nickname of Hunter Adams, wonders the traditional methods of medical care which focus on treating a disease, not a person. Also, Patch disagrees with his professor who believes that doctors must treat patients and not bond with them. Nevertheless, Patch wants to connect with patients and breaks the rules not to see a patient until the third year of schooling. He believes that the humor, listening, and laughter are best medicine for the patient. He secretly begins interacting with patients and makes them laughing. On the other hand, Patch realizes that medicine is one of business, so he and his friends set up a free medical clinic for patients who need helps and treatments. The school finds what he did and decides to expel him. He appeals to the state medical board, and the jury admits his compassion for patients and allows him to graduate from the medical school.
The film Path Adams brings up the ethical issues of running a medical clinic and practicing medicine without a license. It is illegal to run a medical clinic without a license even though Patch helps people who cannot afford medical fees and do not have a health insurance. His compassion for patients is great and inspired, but Patch is a medical student, not a doctor. Patch should consider the responsibility and charge of unproven medical treatments. Also, he steals the supplies from the hospital, and it is absolutely illegal in spite of his apology. Stealing is a crime regardless of his innocent purpose to help patients.
However, Patch Adams calls public attention to medical ethics