Indexing Title:

NALUDINOs Medical Anecdotal Report [05-04]

MAR Title: "Care of"

Date of Medical Observation: May 25, 2005

Narration:

A former medical clerk approached me, a month ago, confiding that she has an aunt who has an anterior neck mass. She was previously diagnosed to have multiple colloid adenomatous goiter, on the right. She was asking that we see the patient and possibly operate on her. Knowing that we needed as such cases, I gladly obliged.

Time passed and eventually the patient was brought to the OPD. Upon examination, we diagnosed the patient to have bilateral MCAG. However, the anterior neck mass was larger than I had imagined it to be. Consequently we advised the patient to undergo surgery to remove the mass. It was at this point that the medical clerk asked me, "Sino gagawa?" To which I answered that my seniors are quite able to do the operation. Then came the clincher, "Bakit hindi na lang ikaw? Gusto ko ikaw ang gumawa."

I explained to her that I have only one thyroidectomy under my belt and it was an easy case, but she insisted. She was so adamant that I couldn't refuse. I tried to prepare for the case, as best as I could, but I couldn't get over the fact the she put so much trust on me. I was very edgy until the day of the operation.

During the operation, what we saw was a thyroid larger than the usual. I had difficulty in dissection, and in looking for the recurrent laryngeal nerve. All the time the clerk was inside the operating watching over me. There were times I felt I didn't know how to proceed. I can't get over the idea that this patient was entrusted to me by a medical clerk, a friend.

With some effort, we eventually finished. I approached the clerk and told her, finally, "Tapos na."
 

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

Every patient that we see is beloved to another. Most of the time, the patients I see, are patients I only see for the first time. Still their relatives and loved ones entrust the patient to me, expecting that their patient will be relieved of their ailments. Therefore we must exert all effort to provide the best quality care.

When I was operating on the patient, with the clerk watching my every move, I did not want to show any sign that I was having a hard time. I did not want to give her the impression that she wrong in putting her trust in me.

As a surgeon-in-training, I know that I have my limitations, my skills are still in their infancy and that I must strive hard to perform every operation safely and effectively. I must rise above the situation, and succeed. The fact that this patient was entrusted to me by friend, must not be a hindrance but rather should serve as a stimulus to perform better. Wouldn't it be better if we treat all patients as if they are our relatives?