Indexing Title:

        MJCABAHUG’s Medical Anecdotal Report [05-02]

MAR Title: 

     MAHIRAP ANG MAGING MAHIRAP

Date of Medical Observation:

     March, 2005

Narration:

Two duties ago, I attended to a patient at the Emergency Room with a stab wound on the right posterior axillary line just below the tenth rib.

On physical examination, the patient had normal vital signs, decreased breath sounds on the right lung field but was not dyspneic.

Patient was then sent for chest xray upright which revealed a pneumohemothorax , right and a pneumoperitoneum.

We did a closed tube thoracostomy, right and decided patient to undergo exploration laparatomy thinking that the patient has diaphragmatic injury.

I explained the patient’s condition to his brother, to whom I learned we came from the same province.

He asked me if he could still transfer his patient to Philippine General Hospital because they have no money and they are not residents of Manila but I told him the patient should undergo an immediate operation.

As I was handing him the prescription of the needed materials, he made a deep sigh and said “ANG HIRAP TALAGANG MAGING ISANG MAHIRAP”

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

I was touched by his statement which made me take money from my wallet to lend him and not expecting him to pay me back.

I would rather lose a couple of bucks than letting someone lose his life because he has none.  I believe that the reward of sharing something is greater than what you give.