Dr. Jonathan A Play in Three Acts

Winston Churchill wrote a short fiction titled Dr. Jonathan. The narrative takes place in a tiny New England town and centers on the persona of Dr. Jonathan a well-respected and popular doctor in the neighborhood. Dr. Jonathan is first introduced along with his daily schedule of seeing patients and catering to their medical requirements. Dr. Jonathan always has time to stop and chat with the residents of the town who respect and appreciate him despite his hectic schedule. One day Mary a young lady visits Dr. Jonathan to get help for her chronic cough. Dr. Jonathan recognizes right once that Mary has TB and that her illness is fatal. Nevertheless he assures her that she will get better and gives her a prescription for a drug that he is aware wont help her. Dr. Jonathan stays in touch with Mary throughout the next weeks providing her both consolation and encouragement as she declines. The villagers start to worry that something is wrong and some even call Dr. Jonathan a quack physician. Mary ultimately dies and Dr. Jonathan is left regretting giving her false hope. He considers his duties as a doctor and understands that they include not just treating patients but also educating them. Overall Dr. Jonathan is a moving tale that examines the moral conundrums that confront doctors and the significance of honesty and integrity in the medical industry.