This Tom London story makes me sad on so many levels. Sad for the dying man who lost all his dignity at the hands of his supposed carers. Sad for the thousands of others who have died in a similar manner. Sad because there is truth to it. Sad because I have witnessed this kind … Continue reading Human first
Doctor
Asystole
Doctor, help! No pulse! Fifteen years. Doctor, help! . Start compressions. Check file. For max. Start compressions. . Doctor, help. No line. Check neck. No pulse. . Thirty beats. Two breaths. Thirty beats. Two breaths. . Line in. Adrenaline stat. Two breaths. Asystole. . Fifteen years. Previously well. For max. Asystole. . Thirty beats. Two … Continue reading Asystole
Internal Medicine. A science or an art?
Every speciality will claim that it is the best. Surgeons will tell you that they are the most skilled. Family physicians will say that they make the most holistic difference to people's lives. Obstetricians will argue that they are responsible for two lives in one. But there is something special about Internal Medicine. It is … Continue reading Internal Medicine. A science or an art?
There one minute, gone the next.
Things I wonder while waiting for the nurses to bring me the death notification book
The lessons that being a patient taught me about being a doctor
In January this year, I found myself staring at a CT scan with a group of people in white coats. This is a pretty normal thing for a doctor to be doing; except I was in Mexico and the CT scan was my own, and I was wearing a hospital gown instead of a white … Continue reading The lessons that being a patient taught me about being a doctor
Doctors, let’s be kind to each other.
Why are doctors so quick to criticize one another? What is it about the medical culture that enables us, not only to easily recognize but actively seek out one another's mistakes? When did we forget that we are all human? Why does it take a colleague losing their life over a mistake before we show … Continue reading Doctors, let’s be kind to each other.
The Roof of Africa
This isn't a really a medicine-related post. It's about my experience climbing Kilimanjaro, something I did when I was on leave. When I was supposed to be putting work aside. But you know how it goes, you can take the doctor out of Medicine but not the other way around. Everyday something reminded me of … Continue reading The Roof of Africa
Music to a doctor’s ears
Things the "on-call" doctor loves to hear: So I haven't posted something in a while because I've been on leave, and therefore lacking the relevant inspiration. But my first day back I was on call (on a Sunday, fantastic!). Thankfully the on-call gods were kind to me and I had a gentle start. I even … Continue reading Music to a doctor’s ears
Jaded
Apparently all doctors reach a point in their careers where they question their life choices. Apparently it happens to everyone, just at different times. Apparently it will probably happen more than once. I reached this point at 4am one morning, about a month ago, while attempting to reduce a paraphimosis (google it and thank me … Continue reading Jaded
Change
Things that change when you become a doctor: On the eve of my last day of work before going on leave (yay!) I have been thinking about the way my life has changed in the last 6 months. A lot has changed, mostly for the better, others maybe not... These are just a few highlights: … Continue reading Change
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