"A question for Lizzie: is the 'Patch Adams' that you have quoted, attacking the 'fame industry', the same one who let his life story be made into a Hollywood film starring Robin Williams ? "

Yes, that's the man. I believe the money went to help the building of Patch's hospital...which he has given his life to raising funds for.

Patch Adams is NOT a superstar. He does not seek publicity.

How do I know?

Because I spoke to those in his office a while back now, about making a Myspace page, in his name. I wanted to try to get Patch's message out as far as I could...and, having noticed there was no page for either Patch or his Geshundheit Institute I thought I'd see if I could help.

They told me they hadn't seen him for ages, because he just 'takes off' and does his own thing. They too were desperate for him to promote himself more on the internet, but Patch doesn't like computers, won't ever deal with them and doesn't carry a phone either.

In short, when Patch is out, he's OUT..and that's that.

What is he out doing?

He's out visiting patients, making the laugh, caring for them. He's out spreading his message, about changing the way we think of medicine and caring for the sick and dying. He's out trying to recruit more and more doctors to think as he does, and this isn't difficult for him to do.   He travels around the world doing this, on his own, with no camera crew, no TV crew, occasionally phoning into his office to see how things are going.

Read his book, Smedley.

And please, don't criticise Patch Adams, because he's a wonderful man!