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The Man Who Lives in the Cardboard Box
Article Number: SIS129638AI220525
22nd May, 2025
Author(s):
Teva D. Brender, M.D.
Abstract:
This reflective essay explores the complexities of compassion, moral responsibility, and self-awareness in medical practice. The author, a physician, recounts an early morning scene in which a naked woman dances in a park outside his apartment. Initially concerned for her safety, he calls 911, expecting a professional crisis response team. Instead, the man who lives in a cardboard box nearby quietly offers his own clothing, dressing her with tenderness and care.
The essay contrasts the structured duty of doctors in a hospital setting, where clinical responsibilities are dictated by protocol, with the ambiguity of real-world ethical decisions. The physician acknowledges the ways medical training creates boundaries, allowing doctors to disengage emotionally outside of work. He reflects on his own reluctance to extend care beyond hospital walls, questioning whether his identity as a doctor is circumstantial rather than intrinsic.
Ultimately, the story highlights the limitations of institutionalized compassion and the humbling realization that true kindness often comes from unexpected places, outside of formal medical structures.