Clown Doctors
Posted by: on
Thu 19 Nov 2009
They juggle and joke in children wards, and sing and dance their way
around hospitals. They are not your typical doctors but they will be
prescribing the ultimate medicine. Laughter.
Clown doctors
will be tending to patients in Christchurch Hospital next month, and
other Kiwi clowns will be doing the same in major hospitals around New
Zealand by Christmas.
Since 1994, Clown Doctors have brought
humour, solace and laughter into hospitals around Austria and Europe.
Monica Culen, Managing Director and Giora Seeliger, Artistic Director,
founded Rote Nasen Clown Doctors under the chairmanship of University
Professor Max Friedrich. At first their work concentrated on caring for
sick children only. However, since 2003, the Clown Doctors have been
caring for geriatric and rehabilitation patients.
Internationally
acknowledged health scientist and researcher of human behaviour, Thomas
Petschner, who brought the idea from Austria to our shores is moved by
the support he has received this far. Individuals and organisations
from all over New Zealand have been eager to take part in this
remarkable and worthy cause.