Index title: HCRUZ’s MAR [01-05]

MAR Title: Touché

Date of  medical observation: July, 2006

 NARRATION

                         This is a short story of a rural poor family who came to Manila. Although barely able to afford the undertaking, did so because they wanted the “best” treatment for their son who had a broken arm. So there I was, on duty at the emergency room that day. We were swarmed with patients every bit as handful as a pack of hyenas, and me trying my best, amidst the chaos, to appear cool, collect and actually know what I’m doing.

                       At about 6:30 p.m., came a family with one member, an 11-year-old child, with a cast around his left arm. Apparently, treated weeks before at OM for a fracture, then told to come back 3 weeks later for the removal of said cast. They waited patiently for their turn to be entertained at the ER. I was the one who saw them that faithful night, an X-ray was requested and done that showed minimal changes from the previous one. Therefore, I told them to return for the official result and visit the OPD instead of the ER, in order for the child’s previous record to be retrieved for scrutiny by the surgery resident on duty at the OPD. This was of course with the blessing of my senior resident.

         The mother asked why in the world won’t we just go find and retrieve the record so that we may be able to take off the cast. As calmly as I could muster, I told her that is impossible because the record section was closed. She seemed to find that explanation lame. She insisted that all we have to do is walk over and find it because it exists and she wasn’t lying. She even proposed to lend us a hand and get it herself, she went on and on…..sad to say, I got ticked off. After 5 minutes we were on the verge of a shouting match. People came to my “rescue,” now they were arguing with her. Amidst all these, somebody started snapping away pictures at the family happily. In light that they were wearing the same colored clothing, like some clownish performance, which of course fueled their already bloated anger.  

             I stepped back off the mob and surveyed the scene. I told myself I should be pleased with myself. I was right in the first place, and she shouldn’t have gotten haughty with me, now I’ve got the hospital staff backing me up. But I wasn’t, instead, I was sad for them and furious with myself. They finally left broken at being ridiculed   and unceremoniously asked to leave the hospital.

INSIGHT (Physical, Psychosocial, Ethical)(Discovery, Stimulus, Reinforcement)

                   Respect is a person’s inherent right. At that moment of revelation, I knew I was wrong even though technically I was in the right. Life has already dealt harshly with them as it is, why should I be added to their misery? We all know that nobody has the right to make any body feel inferior. Shouldn’t that apply to us doctors to the hilt? I believe so, because we have already pledged our service to humankind irrespective of their color, status, or creed.