Memoir of a medical intern….day 17

Handling medical knowledge conflicts the polite way can be challenging sometimes. Especially in times when an immediate life saving decision has to be made

There is always that midwife who has practiced for the past 15 years, a nurse who has practised for 7 years, a medical officer who has practised for maybe 6 years, and then there is you. A fresh graduate doing internship.

Looking at all these professionals, the medical intern looks the least experienced, but not exactly the least informed. Medicine changes by the clock. Day by day , there is new research happening, new things coming up. But because there haven’t been any refresher CMEs, some things may not be exactly known to everyone. And its not exactly easy to shove down the throat new ideas if old ideas have been working .

It happened to me. I stood by my argument . I was the only one in a room of about 14 people who knew that after delivery of the first twin, a small dose of oxytocin is given to run in 500ml Normal saline as a way of augmenting labour. A senior obstetrician had taught me this 8 months ago, and had clearly emphasized the point.

Politely find a way to be assertive. And if nobody agrees with your decision, get your references straight