Death Is Hard
In the past I have found it easy to say that it is harder to see a sick, hospitalized child than a sick, hosptitalized elderly patient. It is easy to reason that the senior citizen has lived a full life while the child has his future ahead of him. But I think this position ignores the viewpoint of the patient’s family. Sure, sometimes a family is prepared for the death of a dying grandfather who has lived a long life and is going out on good terms. But few are ever prepared for a tragic death that comes on suddenly — no matter what age it happens.
Recently I saw a patient who I shall refer to as Mrs. B. We were...
Source: JeffreyMD.com - February 9, 2012 Category: Medical Students Authors: Jeff W Tags: Medical School My Life death patients Source Type: blogs
Fitness, Health, & Relationships
A few years ago I heard of husbands (or fiances) requiring of their brides(-to-be) a contractual agreement to maintain their figure throughout their marriage. I laughed. Ridiculous, I thought to myself. Even as a male who accepts that males are visual creatures, I thought this to be a very shallow and superficial thing to ask of someone you love.
I won’t pretend to know what the motivation was behind those requirements. If they were solely for physical appearances, then I’m still in disagreement with them.
But almost 2 years after I’ve started regularly seeing patients (even as a medical student), I wonder if that s...
Source: JeffreyMD.com - February 7, 2012 Category: Medical Students Authors: Jeff W Tags: Medical School My Life fitness health personal Source Type: blogs
Tears
I used to say that I am immune to tears. I grew up with a baby sister. I saw many tears. And admittedly, some were caused by me.
But I have realized that I am not as immune to them as I thought.
I am only immune to some of them. The kind that are manipulative. You know the kind. The kind that flows like a never-ending river when a child is not getting his or her way. The ones that go along with the sad, puppy-dog eyes that beg for you to give in. These kinds of tears I can handle. I can laugh at them because I will not be manipulated like that. I refuse.
But then there are the other kinds of tears. The tears that flow du...
Source: JeffreyMD.com - February 5, 2012 Category: Medical Students Authors: Jeff W Tags: Medical School My Life emotions patients tears Source Type: blogs
Emails
I do my best to answer all emails I receive. Admittedly, sometimes there may be a few that slip through the cracks.
As I do have a smartphone, the emails come right to my pocket. But sometimes I read them when I have a moment of downtime while standing in a hospital. I can’t tap out a reply at that very moment. So I put it away with every intention of replying when I get the chance.
However, sometimes things get busy. You get other emails that push the email down the pile. And when things finally settle down I simply forget.
And I apologize for that.
If you have emailed me through the Contact Me page and have not r...
Source: JeffreyMD.com - January 25, 2012 Category: Medical Students Authors: Jeff W Tags: Other Source Type: blogs
