Indexing Title:

MDGALVEZ’s Medical Anecdotal Report [05-04]

 MAR title: I lost the needle

 Date of medical Observation: Sometime in 1998

 Narration:

 We were just about to end our operation when my senior gave me the opportunity to close the skin. I was so excited - being my first time to sew up a person, that I was so careful not to have even one stitch out of line.

As I was about half way through, the needle broke. I had difficulty finding it but I know it was just a few millimeters away from where I was suturing. I requested for a new suture and completed the skin closure. I planned to have an x-ray of the area done at the recovery room.

After a while, I mustered enough courage to explain to the patient what happened and so I did. She attentively listened to my monologue. As I ended, she interrupted me and started scolding me and cautioned me that I am no longer in the class room but in a hospital dealing with real people. I apologized and she gave back a smile. “Its OK hijo, no harm on my part considering I am not your patient. She’s on the next bed”  

 INSIGHT (physical, psychosocial, ethical) (discovery, stimulus, reinforcement)

Bad habits are hard to break as the saying goes and for me this is often true. Given a stressful situation I forget to think things over before I act. Such is my narration when I didn’t even make sure whom I was speaking to; as a result I have opened my self to criticism by others. Now I have learned that it is prudent to think before I act.