treating the disease, not the patient
a friend of mine recent suffered an attack of viral gastroenteritis after seeing a family of 3-4 patients in the ED for the same illness. not being able to tolerate oral fluids led to a fainting episode which meant he had to go to hospital for intravenous fluids. The doctor treated him nicely and agreed to his requests of eg only blue cannulars (ie a smaller needle stick). However the nurse wasn't that sympathetic. She decided that he had to have panadol to bring down his temperature. But since, he couldn't keep any tablets down (because of the nausea) and this particular hospital did not have intravenous panadol, she said he had to have it PR (per-rectum). He begged for mercy but she did not yield. The temperature has to come down!!!* Doesn't matter that the patient refused it!!# He has to have it!! and have it he did. She didn't even let him put it in himself...Poor (silly) thing, should never have gone to the SAME ED that he works at.
*there's actually no evidence that mild-mod temperature can kill someone. a high temp's only a sign that the body is trying to overcome an insult.
# in my rule book and most other ppl's, it DOES matter. We have no right to impose a treatment on a patient if the patient's refusing it. just document!
posted by zhinger @ 11:07 pm
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