What can we learn about palliative care from Indian physicians?

Early on in my career I called an Indian internist in the middle of the night to admit a patient to him. The patient was an 88-year-old female with advanced dementia, a terminal brain disease. She had aspiration pneumonia, which is often the final common pathway of this illness. She was in respiratory failure, in septic shock and was a “full code.” I can still recall our 4 a.m. conversation: “Hi, Dr. M this is Monica Murphy in the ER. I have an 88-year-old female with advanced dementia who has pneumonia and is septic. I intubated her; she’s got a central line with antibiotics and pressors hanging, so we need to admit her to the intensive care unit.” 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: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Physician Palliative care Source Type: blogs