Indexing Title:

JMDEGUZMAN’s Medical Anecdotal Report [05-03]

 MAR Title: Being a Doctor

 Date of Medical Observation: April 18, 2005

 Narration:    

             This was the day almost everyone in the hospital was talking about for one month. It was been set. Consultants and residents of the Department of Pediatrics have resigned en masse effective this day. I would not go into the details, enough for us to know that ready or not they were leaving the halls of this hospital. Coincidentally, it was one of the days when I assumed as a Senior House Officer for the day.         

             The previous plan of fielding physicians from Manila Health Department to take-over did not materialize. They did not reported in on the specified date and only two doctors came. Fortunately, the department of pediatrics had transferred their admitted patients one-by-one to nearby hospitals. Also our nursery ward was under renovation for quite some time, hence we do not have admitted patient in pediatrics. Still we need to take care patient coming in OPD and most especially at the ER. A contingency plan was created. Family Medicine will man the Pediatric ER provided the Pediatric Consultant is present. All adult patients will be seen by the Internal Medicine.

             As the Senior House Officer that day, it was my responsibility to oversee the smooth operation of the hospital in its entirety. I was also tasked to be the Triage Officer. When a 5-year-old male with episodes of seizures was brought in I was told that the Pediatric Consultant went out. The Family Medicine resident had returned to his post. So, I went in to help the two interns manning the Pediatric ER. Eventually, we have successfully controlled the seizure after a while but not without a little bit of anxiety on my part. The patient was eventually transferred to other institution.

Insights (Discovery, Stimulus, Reinforcements) (Physical, Psychosocial, Ethical)

            The departure of entire medical staff of the Department of Pediatrics really created a vacuum in our hospital. To be a tertiary hospital we need a solid concrete Department of Pediatrics. This contingency measure if not fortified immediately will crumble and I pray that it will not take along with it the other departments.

            In case of extreme emergencies like this, relatives will not understand if you tell them there is no pediatrician to see their child. We are liable to suits if we refuse them outright. However, a lot of fellow doctors have reservations in putting their license at stake by managing a case not in their line of specialty. They believe that if something happened to the patient during their care beyond their expertise they may also be liable. I believe otherwise, during emergency situations, I am not a surgeon in the eyes of the patient or relatives but a physician in general, a healer. For which the duties and responsibilities of being a doctor is in my persona. I believe that doing my part to the best of my ability without malice would be my best defense against any malpractice suits.