Memoir of a medical intern…day 22

Today I met a colleague returning to his room to rest. He stopped me and he had one sincere and polite request….. He wanted a therapeutic hug.

Last week , I was called to ICU to confirm death. Monitor read that the patient had died about 20 minutes ago. There was no need for me to do anything more. I just did as requested, and made my documentation.

While I was there , the nurse asked me to also confirm death for this other patient who had been on a life support. I had not seen this particular patient before, in fact she was from a different department. When I saw this patient lying lifeless without any chest movements and no heart rate,monitor lines flat, my first instinct was to do CPR. and I did just that with all the energy I could employ. While at it, I noticed the two caretakers of this patient stood there watching me with no concern about what was happening. While at it, the monitor detected a heart rate, I shouted for help. I felt I had brought her back someone to life. The nurse ran to me first, and in her words, she said…Doctor, this patient is brain dead. Her caretakers requested we take her off life support. I only wanted you to confirm that there was no more sign of life.

My days as an intern have some frustrations. These caretakers must have thought I was crazy.