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.
Medicine
Covid Diaries
Chapter One: A whole new world Who would have thought, a year ago, that today we would be walking around in masks; we'd need permits to be out of our houses after 9pm, international travel would be banned and that the only alcohol we'd be allowed to buy would be in the form of hand … Continue reading Covid Diaries
Internal Medicine: Like heart attacks and stuff.
Things that Internal Medicine has taught me so far… Before I start I need to vent - If another person asks me what Internal Medicine is, I am going to lose my mind. When you say Orthopedics people are like “Oh a bone doctor!” and when you say Paediatrics they say “Ag, sweet man, little … Continue reading Internal Medicine: Like heart attacks and stuff.
Unforgettable Patients
Just as in life, you meet people who you will never forget, the same goes for medicine. Most patients’ names and faces all blur together. Someone will greet you in the shop and you have absolutely no idea who they are until they announce loudly that you once banded their hemorrhoids. There are a few, … Continue reading Unforgettable Patients
Standard New Year’s Eve Reflection Post.
Things I learnt in 2016 1. The patient is always right (even when they most definitely aren't) Example: This young fool who told me he has encephalitis, forcing me to do a lumbar puncture (LP) only to tell him what I already knew - that he has flu. But alas he was still convinced he … Continue reading Standard New Year’s Eve Reflection Post.
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
Panda Syndrome
Disclaimer: this post may offend some people. But if you do find yourself offended, you should probably check yourself because in all likelihood you are a Panda, and in that case I don't care if I offend you anyway. What is a Panda? A panda is a demanding breed of patient who thinks they deserve special … Continue reading Panda Syndrome
Here’s to the brilliant ones
In honor of Mother's Day I thought I'd write something a little more serious. It's something that's been at the back of my mind since Med school but a patient I saw the other night got me thinking about it a little bit more. One of the most gorgeous little girls came into the EC … Continue reading Here’s to the brilliant ones
My Five Favourite Presentations
In the EC you see such a vast array of presentations. They can range from trauma to headache, to miscarriages, to appendicitis to overdoses. Some are easier to manage than others, and depending on your interests, some are much more enjoyable to manage than others. When I pick up a folder with any of the … Continue reading My Five Favourite Presentations
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