Christine,

I'd wager than any chef at his level would disagree with your assessment that its not a life but a job. It is his life just as much as a playing cello is YoYo Ma's life or painting was Picasso's life. He is an artist and food is his palette and without his tongue... well, I understand his point completely.

That said, the 'celebrity' standing up and telling people that his or her way is the only way or the best way is, in my opinion, arrogance of the worst kind. Not everyone has the resources, the money or the smarts to see doctor after doctor finding the 'right' treatment and I think any patient seeing that that hasn't done this, or can't do it, is going to feel that they've failed in some way. I think this is horridly unfair and does a horrible disservice to people when they are at their weakest.