R.I.P.
Sucky, sucky, sucky.
3 mortalities. Thought by now I should be accustomed to deaths, but yesterday's just felt particularly sucky.
Man in his 60s, single, survived by a brother. COD : Advanced colon carcinoma. Did he even have his chance at a meaningful life?
Man in his 30s, mentally-challenged, welfare home resident. COD : Diabetic ketoacidosis and septicemic shock. Survived by no one. I stared at his I.C. and felt depressed that his demise probably meant nothing to anybody.
Man in his 50s, heavy smoker, survived by one son. COD : Acute myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock. Another boy has just become newly orphaned.
As for me, I was worn out, physically and emotionally.
And the curtain closes on a chapter in my professional life.
*COD = cause of death
6 comments:
oh dear.. sometimes i think obs and gynae would be best for me.. seeing more of life than death.
We cannot always heal everyone. Such incidents reminds us that we are not that mighty. That we are vulnerable souls too, that we still feels pain when we loose patients. Nomatter ow good a doctor we are, there are still times we need to reflect, and need to be comforted for everyone lost. We ourselves are not immune to mortality. That life is unpredictable, and we have to be grateful for everyday that we have; to let our loved ones know how much we appreciate them while we have the chance.
It's a good closure, in a morbid kind of way. I am glad you are graduating to doing specialist call. Death is inevitable. Our work is to alleviate it as best we can, so that the right to die in dignity and peace is not withheld. Be strong ya. You are doing good work.
as long as we do our parts. We should not be depressed for that. This career is deals with patient's life. Esp medical , we always get the worst patient with bad outcome. Unlike surgical, that is elective cases for us to optimice, we always got cases to stabilise. I believe as a doctor, we only help patient not play god to saves patient.
Be hold this principle , you will happy always.
YL : There's certainly more joy in welcoming a new life than seeing one end. The smell of liquor and the sound of fetal heart on CTG give me a headache though...:)
Lostsheep : Yup, human lives are so vulnerable...
Jimbo : I HOPE I am doing good work. It's just so tiring sometimes.
Fang : You are ever the happy-go-lucky chap! :D
Jimbo said...
"It's a good closure, in a morbid kind of way. I am glad you are graduating to doing specialist call. Death is inevitable. Our work is to alleviate it as best we can, so that the right to die in dignity and peace is not withheld. Be strong ya. You are doing good work. "
That brings me to the subject of euthanasia.
I think that for people who are at life's end, it's a good closure.
Why linger and suffer? It doesn't make any sense!
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