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Brian Vastag

JAMA. 2002;288:559-565.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

The case was unusual, even in a developing country such as Jamaica: a 40-year-old woman with a large ovarian tumor—45 pounds large. With medical services scant, the patient waited until a volunteer team from Medical Ministry International (MMI) (see Table 1) arrived. An obstetrician from the United States excised the benign mass—which turned out not to be so benign. The tumor had been crushing the vena cava, squeezing a great quantity of blood into myriad clots. Released from the pressure, a large clot broke free and lodged in the patient's lung, killing her.

Table appears in full text version. Physician Service Opportunities Abroad

The next day, the obstetrician walked out of the clinic and found herself surrounded by the patient's family. She assumed they would be angry. Instead, they were grateful, offering gifts and thanks.

"Whenever I tell that story about another volunteer, I say, ‘How could you not go back?'" said George . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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