Life — November 21, 1912 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "A Game of Patients" This **Life** magazine cover from November 21, 1912 uses chess as a metaphor for medical practice. An elderly physician (left) manipulates his patients like chess pieces on a board, while a nurse (right) watches. The title "A Game of Patients" is a pun: "patients" sounds like "patiences," suggesting doctors treat sick people as mere game pieces rather than human beings deserving genuine care. The satire critiques the medical profession's tendency to view patients as objects to be strategically managed for profit or professional advancement, rather than as individuals needing compassionate treatment. The chess board emphasizes the calculated, impersonal nature of such practice. This reflects Progressive Era concerns about medical ethics and professionalism during the early 20th century.