Page 1283 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 5 April 2011
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Finally, to his wife, Sue, his children James, Peter, Kate and Michael, and to his friends and colleagues, on behalf of the Canberra Liberals and myself, I extend my sincere and genuine condolences.
MS HUNTER (Ginninderra—Parliamentary Convenor, ACT Greens): Dr John Buckingham, who was recognised for his significant contribution when announced as the 2010 ACT Senior of the Year, will be remembered for his skill and meticulous clinical follow-up for the many women suffering from breast cancer. He was a skilled practitioner who provided excellent clinical care. Dr Buckingham’s clinical skill was obviously very important but he provided more, so much more, to Canberrans, particularly women with breast cancer, for many years. He was very well loved and will be remembered for his compassion and gentleness, for supporting the women he cared for on their journey.
Compassion and humility are, sadly, sometimes missing from modern medical practice in a system that is often placed under considerable stress. Those who experience serious illness or are diagnosed with a life threatening condition like cancer are understandably usually very fearful. The care they receive and the understanding of their practitioner can make a world of difference as they face surgery and sometimes invasive treatment. Dr Buckingham certainly provided that support.
Dr Buckingham retired in early 2011, once he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Before this time, he was the National President of the Australian and New Zealand Chapter of the American College of Surgeons. Dr Buckingham studied general surgery at the Mayo Clinic in the United States. He came to Calvary hospital when it opened in 1979 and this is where he stayed. He was the designated breast screen surgeon, overseeing others providing breast cancer surgery. He established the lymph node biopsy, or sentinel node, technique in the ACT, something that eased the suffering of many women, as only one or two lymph nodes are removed rather than 20 to 30. When many nodes are removed, a patient has a lifelong risk of lymphedema. Lymph node biopsy prevents this.
Earlier this year Dr Buckingham was to take part in a lengthy radio interview about his work and life. His illness prevented him from participating, but the segment went ahead and was filled with callers who had worked with him or had been cared for by him. What was very clear was that his kindness was infectious and seemed to reach everyone he met. Dr Mouradi, a local anaesthetist, called Dr Buckingham “a unique human being in every respect”. He was someone who treated everyone with care and compassion, but also a clinician of great skill. He said he had never seen a patient of Dr Buckingham’s returning for follow-up surgery. Dr Mouradi said Dr Buckingham would even take note of a patient’s financial situation, never turning anyone away.
Bethel Holly was also interviewed. She is a breast cancer nurse. She said he was a very inspiring man and a role model who always worked above and beyond what most considered usual care. She simply stated that he devoted his life to the people he cared for and improving the quality of clinical services. A patient of Dr Buckingham, Colette, said she was diagnosed with breast cancer a couple of days before Christmas. There were no spare appointments, so Dr Buckingham came in for a 7 am meeting
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