Throwing Out the Clowns

Ridiculous. I should think children would especially love these visits. Just because they thought they were hallucinating doesn't mean the volunteers are hallucinogens!

The clowns who should be thrown out are the clown who made this ridiculous decisions. Who do they think they are? Congressional senators?

Very sad that a few would make enough noise to have this program shuttled. Smiles and hugs can make a hospital stay much more pleasant.

Besides, people often hallucinate when in the hospital, due to the medications. Even after my husband came out of a long coma, he told me of being outside the hospital in a helicopter, upside down , and cutting the tree tops. and he pointed out to me where it was.

I hope the powers that be rethink this decision.

When I had surgery I saw the clowns walking by and thought they were a nice touch to break up the institution.

I know I am not the norm, but I'd prefer not to be visited by a clown or a raggedy ann/andy or a mime or a marionette or a ventriloquist while in the hospital (or any other time).

Sleep deprivation is a major problem in hospitals and likely to be the cause of hallucinations. Adequate rest is fleeting at best.

Why complicate the matter with unnecessary intrusions calculated to amuse the intruder more than the one intruded on?

I was laid up for a week at Cottage in '95. One day an Andy came into our room, followed by some other colleagues: it was Bruce "The Barnfather" O'Neal, a former employer of mine and a then-County Planning Commissioner. I laughed and cried, and have visited a few colleagues at Cottage ever since, though not in costume.

So what's the big deal? Exclude the Anns and Andys from the rooms of people who're on heavy meds like morphine (my Mom, dying of cancer, imagined the Queen of England at her closet door with no person actually there, in her own home). Don't throw out the many good deeds because of a tragically unfortunate few experiences.

I agree with GregHohr above. Sounds like a case of throwing the baby out with the bath water. Surely if someone doesn't want a caring visit, they can say so or, if one comes in, say they want to be left alone. I'm sure the Anns woiuld leave immediately with no hard feelings all around.

It's the same old story: A few complain and everyone else has to pay the price.

As for those who don't want to be visited, the hospital should check with that person/their family ahead of time so the wishes of everyone can be respected.

I wouldn't object to RaggedyAnn/Andy seeing me, but I would draw the line at Carrot Top, who I'm pretty sure is a close relative of these two.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrot_Top