So today, I experienced the parts of being a doctor that suck. Cranky, stressed, scared family members retaliating on me for no good reason. Actually, today was Act II in this play. The first act occurred 3 days earlier. That confrontation in which I was insulted for no good reason led to a first. It was the first time that I made a decision for my patient that I didn't believe was the best thing for my patient. The patients wife's brother died the day before and she was too stressed out to think about her husband coming out of the hospital and going back to the nursing home. Usually, this is a pretty automated process from the stand point of the family member. They don't even need to be in the same state and it happens with diligence and care. But I gave in to their anger and aggression and agreed to holding the patient till the day after the funeral. The patient remained completely stable during the entire time and showed no signs of developing any nosocomial infections which he is at great risk for being on broad spectrum antibiotics (selecting out the resistant bugs). Finally, the previously agreed upon day for transfer arrived. Again sadly they argued and insulted me and threatened to sue me. I did discharge the patient. He was stable for more than 72 hours... each additional day in the hospital is another day they could acquire one of these terrible microbes. People... MRSA and C.diff KILL people!!! Especially elderly frail patients like my guy.
This lady seems to have forgotten that Justin and I managed to prevent this guy from dying on at least three separate occasions over the past 6 months... The patient should actually be on hospice... and probably should have died by now, but we've done everything right!!! and barely pulled him out of the grave each time... what thanks do I get? Insults and threats.
dngilb md.
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