Giving Bad News.
Just about every doctor has gone into the wrong room at some point. Whether as a med student, resident or even a veteran attending, We’ve all done it. I admit I have done it. When it has happened, I figured it out quickly. Apologized then made my exit. You just hope that you don't give bad news.
I was in the ICU. The nurse tells me that the boyfriend of one of my patients is in the room. I need to update him on the condition of his girlfriend. She is doing very poorly. I walk in to the room, introduce myself and I proceed to tell this man about how her bowel is dead. I go on and explain how she is too sick to survive surgery. She is going to die... today. There isn’t anything we can do to stop this runaway train. We need to make her comfortable. He replied with a "she didn't look this bad yesterday" comment. I followed with we are waiting on her son Billy to make it in. He states, "who is Billy? Her sons are Tim and Allen."
Had I just delivered the worst possible news about the wrong patient?!!! Adrenaline is now raging. I feel absolutely awful. This is more than embarrassment! This is emotional battery! I fearfully start scanning the room, there must be a label with the patient name in here somewhere!!! The old man says, "Dr. this is Kim Smith's room." Fumbling to turn her wrist bracelet face foward, I look at her name. "No sir, this is Mary Smith's room."
He was old... but he didn't appear to be blind. Crazy old man.
David MD
P.S. all names and health info was altered to be HIPPA compliant.
Just about every doctor has gone into the wrong room at some point. Whether as a med student, resident or even a veteran attending, We’ve all done it. I admit I have done it. When it has happened, I figured it out quickly. Apologized then made my exit. You just hope that you don't give bad news.
I was in the ICU. The nurse tells me that the boyfriend of one of my patients is in the room. I need to update him on the condition of his girlfriend. She is doing very poorly. I walk in to the room, introduce myself and I proceed to tell this man about how her bowel is dead. I go on and explain how she is too sick to survive surgery. She is going to die... today. There isn’t anything we can do to stop this runaway train. We need to make her comfortable. He replied with a "she didn't look this bad yesterday" comment. I followed with we are waiting on her son Billy to make it in. He states, "who is Billy? Her sons are Tim and Allen."
Had I just delivered the worst possible news about the wrong patient?!!! Adrenaline is now raging. I feel absolutely awful. This is more than embarrassment! This is emotional battery! I fearfully start scanning the room, there must be a label with the patient name in here somewhere!!! The old man says, "Dr. this is Kim Smith's room." Fumbling to turn her wrist bracelet face foward, I look at her name. "No sir, this is Mary Smith's room."
He was old... but he didn't appear to be blind. Crazy old man.
David MD
P.S. all names and health info was altered to be HIPPA compliant.
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