British Columbia Medical Journal, December 2010 issue Please download or visit this entire issue online at http://bcmj.org/issue/december-2010

1. back page
The Proust Questionnaire has its
origins in a parlor game popularized
by Marcel Proust, the French essay-
ist and novelist, who believed that, in
answering these questions, an indivi-
dual reveals his or her true nature.
Proust questionnaire: William J. McLaren, MD
What is your idea of perfect What is your most marked
happiness? characteristic?
Ruminating in starlight at our Shuswap Sans froid.
Lake cottage.
On what occasion do you lie?
What is your greatest fear? Hopefully never now in retirement,
Dying before my handicapped wife. but at times to soften the blow of
telling bad news.
What is the trait you most
deplore in yourself? What do you most value in your
My inability to catch up. colleagues?
Their friendship.
What characteristic do your
favorite patients share? Who are your favorite writers?
A sense of trust that I was doing my Malcolm Gladwell and David Rem-
best. nick.
Which living physician do you What is your greatest regret?
most admire? That I did not recognize precursors to
What profession might you have Michael S. Wilson, my GP. my wife’s stroke.
pursued, if not for medicine?
Pilot What is your favorite activity? How would you like to die?
Reading the New Yorker in bed when Suddenly from whatever.
Which talent would you most not at tennis or skiing.
like to have? What is your motto?
Ability to play the piano. What medical advance do you In virtue are riches.
most anticipate?
What do you consider your Voluntary euthanasia.
greatest achievement?
Marrying my beautiful wife. Tell us a bit about yourself. Please complete and submit a
Proust Questionnaire—your colleagues will appreciate it.
Who are your heroes?
My teacher Lord Russell Brock and
Online E-mail
tennis player Roger Federer. www.bcmj.org/proust- journal@bcma.bc.ca. E-mail
questionnaire. Complete and us and we’ll send you a
submit it online. blank MS Word document
to complete and return.
Print
www.bcmj.org/proust- Mail
questionnaire. Print a copy from 604 638-2858. Call us and
Dr Mclaren is a retired thoracic and gener- our web site, complete it, and we’ll mail you a copy to com-
either fax (604 638-2917) or mail plete and return by mail (BCMJ
al surgeon in Kamloops, where he prac- it (BCMJ 115-1665 West Broad- 115-1665 West Broadway,
tised for 35 years. way, Vancouver BC V6J 5A4). Vancouver BC V6J 5A4).
546 BC MEDICAL JOURNAL VOL. 52 NO. 10, DECEMBER 2010 www.bcmj.org