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"A great man", "the best of doctors", "a good man"... If he liked to cultivate discrétion, the news of his death in France immediately triggered a wave of testimonials in Saint-Barthélemy. Dr. Edgar Weil, whose death was announced on Tuesday, February 4, never ceased to benefit the people of Saint-Barthélemy for almost fifty years.Saint-Barthélemy's inhabitants of his medical skills, his professionalism and, as many of his former patients point out, his kindness and attentiveness. "Dr. Weil is an increasingly rare figure," testifies Charles Querrard, former mayor of Saint-Barthélemy, who worked alongside the practitioner at the Bruyn hospital.
It was in the 1970s that "Eddy", as some of his close friends called him, arrived in Saint-Barthélemy. "I think he arrived by boat," recalls one of his relatives on the island. No matter. At the time, doctors were rare. Particularly in Saint-Barth. Through his dedication, he quickly became the one everyone turned to when a doctor was needed. But he's not afraid to turn into a... veterinarian when help is needed either.
Online, the Bruyn hospital has issued a statement which reads: "A humble and discreet man, Doctor Edgar Weil devoted a large part of his life to caring for and accompanying the inhabitants of our island with kindness and devotion. He was a key player in the development of the De Bruyn Hospital and in the improvement of the healthcare offer on our territory. Always driven by a desire to help, he worked tirelessly to bring his expertise and humanity to those in need.
His commitment and legacy will remain etched in the memory of our hospital and our entire community. "
"Of rare competence
Charles Querrard remembers meeting Dr. Weil in the mid-1970s, when he held the position of hospital director. There were two nuns-nurses, two cleaning staff and Dr. Weil," he recalls. He worked part-time at the hospital and the rest of the time as a private practitioner (in his Gustavia practice, editor's note). I immediately admired this doctor. He was extremely competent and never made a wrong diagnosis. He lived for the practice of medicine and was entirely at the disposal of the population. "As time went by, the future mayor also realized that Dr. Edgar Weil practiced his profession with the utmost disinterest. I realized that he wasn't interested in money," confides Charles Querrard. His rates were very low. He was a bachelor and didn't socialize much. He had an incredible awareness of the practice of medicine. So when he said a patient had to be evacuated to Guadeloupe, I didn't ask any questions. "Of course, there's no shortage of anecdotes. From the Peugeot 404 station wagon transformed into an ambulance, to the attempt to resuscitate a patient who had already died on arrival at the hospital, using the bare wire of a simple lamp.
"Benevolent, generous and discreet"
"When he was delivering babies at home in those days, his dog stayed under the table, and no one would have thought to protest," smiles Charles Querrard. He also remembers the reorganization of the hospital, with the creation of two maternity beds. With a delivery service in the hospital, he risked losing his clientele, yet it was he who convinced his patients that giving birth in hospital would be safer," says Charles Querrard. I have a lot of anecdotes showing that he was a dedicated doctor. He did it all his life, until recently. He was exemplary. "
From the little "bobos" he treated to the lives he saved, Dr. Edgar Weil left his mark on several generations of Saint-Barthélemy residents. An immensely benevolent, generous and discreet doctor, he embodied unfailing dedication and exemplary professionalism," writes territorial councillor Romaric Magras. He marked and served several generations, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know him. "The President of the Collectivité territoriale, Xavier Lédée, also wrote online: "In living among us for more than fifty years, he made many friends, many of whom will miss him. Many still say that one day he saved their lives. "
