On Saturday, Oct. 24, the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus will host a special screening of the documentary American Doctor. Director Poh Si Teng, who has worked for The New York Times and Al‑Jazeera, will be on hand to introduce the film alongside Dr. Mark Perlmutter and Dr. Feroze Sidhwa.
Film focuses on American doctors in Gaza
The film follows three American medical professionals who travel to Gaza to treat civilians amid ongoing bombardment. Dr. Perlmutter, a Jewish‑American surgeon, argues that showing graphic images of injured children preserves their dignity, while Teng worries that such images may be gratuitous. Their debate frames the documentary’s central question: how much should the media reveal to honor victims without exploiting their suffering.
Dr. Sidhwa, the son of Pakistani immigrants, stresses that his identity as an American allows him to speak without the “blanket assumptions” often placed on voices in the conflict. He recounts the harrowing moments when a hospital security guard’s toddler was left behind as staff evacuated, underscoring the human cost of the war.
Local relevance and community response
The screening is part of the Wexner Center’s “Unorthodocs” series, which highlights documentary work that challenges viewers to confront uncomfortable truths. Organizers hope the event will spark conversation among Columbus residents about the United States’ role in the Middle East and the moral responsibilities of American volunteers abroad.
“We want the film to hold a mirror up to viewers and widen the space for whose voice is allowed to go forward,” Teng said in a recent interview. She added that the documentary also examines how media narratives can obscure the lived reality of Gaza’s civilian population.
Background on the conflict
The film was made during what the director describes as a “genocide” in Gaza, a term reflecting the scale of civilian casualties reported by international observers. The Committee to Protect Journalists documented 129 journalists killed worldwide in 2025, the majority attributed to Israeli fire, a statistic that motivated Teng to begin the project.
While the documentary presents graphic footage, Teng noted she considered blurring or pixelating images to protect the dignity of those killed. Dr. Perlmutter argued that obscuring the images would further erase the victims’ humanity.
What to expect at the event
After the screening, audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions of the filmmakers and doctors. The discussion is expected to cover topics such as the ethical limits of medical aid in war zones, the impact of U.S. foreign policy on humanitarian efforts, and the role of American media in shaping public perception of the conflict.
Tickets are free but limited; interested residents are encouraged to reserve seats early through the Wexner Center’s website.
Original reporting: Matter News (Columbus) — read the source article.
