"We wish to take care of people who are sick, in areas where they have little or no chance of receiving medical aid. And we wish to clear up some of the fears and misconceptions of America that are held by people of some foreign lands. We wish to care for their sick, and in return we wish only their love and understanding."

"... we should go to places to which we are asked, build and stock a small hospital, train the villagers to run the hospital on a simple level, and after a few years--two, three or four--turn the hospital over to the host governments."

"My mission was not to set up a permanent American outpost, but to establish something that the Lao themselves could carry on. True, it would be primitive by western standards; but it would be better than what these people had before."

"In America doctors run 20th century hospitals. In Asia I run a 19th century hospital. Upon my departure the hospital may drop to the 18th century. This is fine, because previously the tribes in the high valleys lived, medically speaking, in the 15th century."

"I think that the most important component of a hospital is not lavish air-conditioning, nor electricity, nor fancy electronic paraphernalia, bur rather compassion."

"The purpose of MEDICO is to go into areas where the organization is invited to perform a service--not a charity--and to establish hospitals and train people to operate them. In short, MEDICO's purpose is to help the underprivileged to help themselves."