Breaking bad news
A new patient got transferred to my ward, and the first thing the nurses told me was, "Dr, this patient needs a syringe driver please. He's dying."
A syringe driver is a device which allows medications to be given continuously, and the dose can be adjusted to meet the individual's needs.
When I went to see the state of this patient during the ward round, I knew this chap wouldn't last long. I have had quite a few of patients who passed away, and somehow, over the months, I am able to identify who are the ones who will go off fairly quickly from their look and breathing sounds, and I can just about tell if it's within the next day or 2.
Obviously, having been only given this patient, I didn't manage to form a bond of any sort with him and his family.
Bad news had to be broken to his family today, and I tagged along to the office to observe how my Consultant breaks bad news. I must say his skill at doing so is the best I have ever seen. Most I've seen just want to break it asap and get out of the situation within the shortest possible time. But my Consultant took time to slowly lead the family towards the final bit of the bad news, hence avoiding letting them go into a state of shock. He also gave them the freedom to weep in front of him, allowed them time to gather their thoughts and pull themselves together before carrying on. He also gently explained the various routes and plans which can be done for the patient, and nicely made them see that there is a limit to how much a person's life can be prolonged even after proceeding with all the other investigations and treatment.
I love this sentence he said the most...
"Mr X is 89, and like u said, he has been leading a good life, and enjoying it. I think the best we can do for him now is to keep him comfortable, and gradually letting him go peacefully."
I know it sounds normal, but perhaps it was the tone he used which touched me greatly as I listened.
I could tell that he had a close knit family who loves him dearly, from the way his son spoke and watching how he broke down in the office. He was telling us about how happy his dad was, and how happy the entire family was, until his mum passed away. And it was from that day onwards that his dad deteriorated in every way.
When he was talking about all that, I actually weeped. Yeah, and my seniors started laughing at me after we left the room.
A syringe driver is a device which allows medications to be given continuously, and the dose can be adjusted to meet the individual's needs.
When I went to see the state of this patient during the ward round, I knew this chap wouldn't last long. I have had quite a few of patients who passed away, and somehow, over the months, I am able to identify who are the ones who will go off fairly quickly from their look and breathing sounds, and I can just about tell if it's within the next day or 2.
Obviously, having been only given this patient, I didn't manage to form a bond of any sort with him and his family.
Bad news had to be broken to his family today, and I tagged along to the office to observe how my Consultant breaks bad news. I must say his skill at doing so is the best I have ever seen. Most I've seen just want to break it asap and get out of the situation within the shortest possible time. But my Consultant took time to slowly lead the family towards the final bit of the bad news, hence avoiding letting them go into a state of shock. He also gave them the freedom to weep in front of him, allowed them time to gather their thoughts and pull themselves together before carrying on. He also gently explained the various routes and plans which can be done for the patient, and nicely made them see that there is a limit to how much a person's life can be prolonged even after proceeding with all the other investigations and treatment.
I love this sentence he said the most...
"Mr X is 89, and like u said, he has been leading a good life, and enjoying it. I think the best we can do for him now is to keep him comfortable, and gradually letting him go peacefully."
I know it sounds normal, but perhaps it was the tone he used which touched me greatly as I listened.
I could tell that he had a close knit family who loves him dearly, from the way his son spoke and watching how he broke down in the office. He was telling us about how happy his dad was, and how happy the entire family was, until his mum passed away. And it was from that day onwards that his dad deteriorated in every way.
When he was talking about all that, I actually weeped. Yeah, and my seniors started laughing at me after we left the room.
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