Tomorrow, we may fail you: Vignettes of pre-existing conditions

Today, I cleaned the laceration above your eye from where he punched you with a closed fist. As I was stitching up the gaping wound with two layers of sutures, I told you that the scar would fade into the line of your eyebrow. I helped you apply your foundation on your neck to cover the bruising from where he strangled you. I monitored you for any swelling of your airway. I wrote down the names of the local battered women’s shelters and hotlines and slipped the paper in your shoe. I offered to call the police for you no fewer than ten times. I told you how I feared the next time you would not be discharged home. Today, I tended to your superficial wounds. Tomorrow, when your wounds are move severe or when the deeper wounds appear, we may fail you. Today, you came to me alone after passing out while working part-time at the local movie theater. You are a college student, and your family is hundreds of miles away. No one was with you when I explained that your bloodwork was concerning for cancer. I’m not sure you truly heard me when I explained you would need to stay in the hospital for a blood transfusion and bone marrow transplant. You asked for a note to excuse you from your physics final tomorrow. That may be the only note I can write on your behalf. Today, I was able to suspect a diagnosis and set up life-saving treatment. Tomorrow, when you are in remission but develop secondary heart failure from toxic chemotherapy, we may fail you. Continue reading ... Your patient...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Conditions Emergency Source Type: blogs