Alpo Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 These two people have been in a car wreck. They bring them to the hospital. And the one guy tells the nurse, "These two people are going to die unless we do this now!" Yes, this was a television show. Emergency, with Gage and DeSoto. And I get that he was trying to make the point to the nurse to get off her butt and do this, but the two people were conscious. They could hear him. One of them was a little kid, about 10 or 11. "These two people are going to die unless you ..." It just seemed kind of --- WOW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Zook Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 In all the years I've been in the field, I don't think I've ever uttered those exact words but, I have said …'we need to go Now', 'Lets Go' and 'bring a friend' (going to need extra hands), when trying to emphasize that time is of the essence/pt's condition was deteriorating and getting the patient to definitive care (hospital) rapidly was of high importance. Now in a classroom "training" situation and working with newly minted EMTs and Paramedics and jr Dr's (residents), yes using that verbage to enhance/emphasize that they need to get off their respective *** and do something is appropriate. Similarly, never say that the pt is going to be fine when you know that they are not 'fine' and give false hope. Rather, 'we're doing everything we can for them'. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 It would go against the Hippocratic Oath “Do no harm”, plus anyone saying that in front of a patient would probably be on the short list for terminations. Medical professionals have codes and terminologies that they can use to convey a message like that. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Joker Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 I was trained as an EMT/MEDIC that even unconcious patients can hear you and those near death might cue that to 'let go. Was even dressed down once by a floor nurse OIC when I was giving a final ekg to a discharge and the machine malfunctioned and output flatline. Dude was sitting up in civvies and just wanted to go home. I said something like 'well can't let you go you're dead' or some such went and got a new machine. She overheard and took me aside and tore me a new one. Not even the same circumstances since it wasn't a critical care situation. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gracos Kid Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 (edited) A guy I worked with fell, broke his neck and was paralyzed. Was put on a ventilator and was mentally alert but could not speak or move. Doctors indicated that he would be in that shape for the rest of his life. On a Monday while I was standing in his hospital room, his wife stated that she was going to have them disconnect him on Thursday as she knew he wouldn't want to live like that. I was stunned to think she would be so uncaring while he was listening ....... Edited November 29 by Gracos Kid Add info 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watab kid Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 ive not been in hospital often over my life but oddly heard some incredibly off comments by medical staff in those few visits , one time i had a nurse look at my injuries and make the comment id lost a finger - i hadnt it was just really messed up , another standing nearby chastised her for the comment , Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted November 29 Author Share Posted November 29 I had a friend who was a hemophiliac. Notice past tense. There are different types of hemophilia - I did not know that - and apparently he had the worst type. When he went into the hospital one time for some Factor, one of the nurses looked at his chart and said that it was amazing. Most people with his type of hemophilia would be dead by now. I'm not sure if that would be the harshest thing you would want to hear, or when the PA just casually said, "You know you're HIV positive, right?" Ah, the joys of having blood transfusions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watab kid Posted November 30 Share Posted November 30 yup , after my accident i also had a cop come in the room where they were scraping gravel from some wounds and ask me if id drunk all the vooze in the bottle they found in my back pocket - now id had one beer , hours before and had no bottle in my back pocket - the nurse scrubbing my wounds with a 'wire brush; looked at him and said ........"he is in the next rooom but you wont be getting any answers from him , he is dead , then went back to work on me apparently that was a busy day in the ER , just know i went home with casts on both arms and bandages on my right knee - also some big black pain pills that i dont recomend - i tried one the first night and never touched one again , Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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