This article is a collaboration between ľֱ and:
BARCELONA -- A leading American cardiologist was vacationing here with his family Thursday when a , an event he describes as "sobering."
But that cardiologist, told ľֱ that experience did not alter his plan to join thousands of other cardiologists who will gather here August 26 for the opening of the annual congress of the European Society of Cardiology.
Lloyd-Jones said he and his family are staying in an apartment just off Las Ramblas, where the attack that killed 14 and injured 100 took place, but fortunately they were not there at the time. "We are returning home Sunday (August 20), but I fly back (to Barcelona) next Sunday" for the ESC meeting.
ESC announced early Friday that while the organization mourned the deaths, the congress would go as scheduled. "What has become ever more apparent lately is that no country, no community, is immune from this violence," the said in a statement.
ľֱ polled a large group of cardiologists to find out if Thursday's attack by terrorists had altered their plans to attend the meeting, and found that the only change appeared to be an increased enthusiasm to make the trip.
"If we don't go and keep living, then the terrorists win. We are united around the world with Barcelona and its wonderful people," said chief of cardiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix. "Of course it affected me, and gave me second thoughts. But that lasted for a minute. My husband and I are going. We did discuss that we should stay out of crowds but that is very hard to do if we are attending such a large convention! Our thoughts and prayers are with Barcelona, Spain and all its people. And we will be there in solidarity with the world, standing up for peace and love."
called the events "the new normal" and said, "If anything, security always increases after an event ... in most circumstances we must not be deterred in living our lives (especially as regards promoting health and medicine at a congress such as ESC)." Stone is director of cardiovascular research and education at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.
Stone's Cardiovascular Research Foundation colleague, echoed that sentiment, adding, "We must all go and show support."
University of California San Diego cardiologist , said, "My wife and I will not alter our plans to attend the ESC conference. If we change behavior, the terrorists have won." DeMaria is slated to receive a career award from the ESC.
of the Cleveland Clinic, is known for his willingness to speak his mind, so his response was not surprising: "I would never change my plans because of a terrorist attack. That's just what the terrorists want – to force us to live in fear. The best way to stand up to terrorism is to continue life as usual."
And then there were those who hadn't planned to attend and are now are pondering the fact that they are missing the opportunity to join the united cardiology front.
For example, Stanford's will be missing the ESC because he will be attending a family function -- plans made months before the attacks, But he told ľֱ, "I'd like to think that [the terror attack] wouldn't keep me from attending, but hard to really know as it is an abstract decision at this point."