Responsibilty - Nerving!
Today our doctor was telling us how, being a doctor is fun and exciting but at the same time, can be very dangerous and hectic.
I am posted in pediatrics currently, and he told us of a case he got at the hospital 3 days back. It was a 5 day old baby. The mother complained that the baby wasnt breathing. And so it was a case of respiratory distress, and the baby wasnt breathing.
The baby was taken into emergency. The doctor asked the nurse to start an IV(intravenous) line. The nurse was unable to do so. A second nurse came and had her go at the baby's veins. She was unable as well. A third nurse also tried but failed. In the end, the baby was presented to the doctor and was told that the nurse was unable to start an IV line. Also, keep in mind the nurses had already punctured all possible venous sites. Crisis situation!
The doctor was simply trying to say, that in the end it all comes down to the doctor. At the end of the day, nobody will question the nurse as to why she was unable to get the IV line. All eyes will be on the doctor. And questions thrown at the doctor as why this life was not saved.
No matter who else is involved, it is always the doctor who is responsible and answerable for the life of this baby. Similarly the case with any other patient.
I guess being a doctor is no small a deal. It is in fact a very big deal. You are taking the life of another human being into your own hands. And the patients put all their hope and trust in you. Its hard with so much burden on your shoulders. Then again, someone has to do it!
I am posted in pediatrics currently, and he told us of a case he got at the hospital 3 days back. It was a 5 day old baby. The mother complained that the baby wasnt breathing. And so it was a case of respiratory distress, and the baby wasnt breathing.
The baby was taken into emergency. The doctor asked the nurse to start an IV(intravenous) line. The nurse was unable to do so. A second nurse came and had her go at the baby's veins. She was unable as well. A third nurse also tried but failed. In the end, the baby was presented to the doctor and was told that the nurse was unable to start an IV line. Also, keep in mind the nurses had already punctured all possible venous sites. Crisis situation!
The doctor was simply trying to say, that in the end it all comes down to the doctor. At the end of the day, nobody will question the nurse as to why she was unable to get the IV line. All eyes will be on the doctor. And questions thrown at the doctor as why this life was not saved.
No matter who else is involved, it is always the doctor who is responsible and answerable for the life of this baby. Similarly the case with any other patient.
I guess being a doctor is no small a deal. It is in fact a very big deal. You are taking the life of another human being into your own hands. And the patients put all their hope and trust in you. Its hard with so much burden on your shoulders. Then again, someone has to do it!
posted by Blue Rose @ 9:00 PM
2 Comments:
At Tuesday, November 01, 2005 7:59:00 PM,
Anonymous said…
Hmm....i remember in Germany...none of the nurses could draw blood from one of the newborns there...so they called the doctor...and the doctor got it....from the scalp vein...man it was wow!!! i was like whoa!!! i mean think of a newborns frail head....all fidgity....crying...a sharp sharp needle....and this teeeeny weeny scalp vein that u can hardly see....wow MashaAllah!
-Shehzaadii
At Thursday, December 01, 2005 9:27:00 PM,
Anonymous said…
I want to become a doctor but things like this put me off :-/
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