Here ’s what death really sounds like

7 a.m. began as it always did; the overnight doc was threatening to quit while rubbing her bloodshot eyes and smearing mascara beneath them. Between heavy sighs, she listed the patients transferring into my care ending with Mr. Mandel. “He’s eighty-something,” she explained, “hospice care. Cancer with metastases. Came in from home because family ran out of morphine and he was in a lot of pain. Anyway, he’s actively dying now, so they don’t really want to put him back in the car and drive him home.” With that, she shoved a handful of dry cereal in her mouth and shuffled out. I hung my stethoscope over one shoulder and started rounding on each of my newly acquired projects. When I pulled back the curtain in Mr. Mandel’s room, his daughter flinched, and her eyes darted toward mine, like a startled animal. She sat aside Charles’ stretcher on a folding chair, clinging to his railing in an attempt to hold herself upright with what energy she had left. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Physician Hospital-Based Medicine Oncology/Hematology Source Type: blogs