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See, that’s what the app is perfect for.

Sounds perfect Wahhhh, I don’t wanna
lieutenant-commander updatebug
updatebug

So, we’ve all seen the posts about how alcohol, caffeine and spicy food is viewed as horrifying poison across the galaxy, and how aliens are all suitably horrified when they see us consume it. 

Tell you what I haven’t seen mentioned, but which is also varying levels of toxic to most not human animals? Theobromine. Normally found in chocolate. 

Like, can you imagine being captured by aliens who are planning to poison you to send a message to your crew. They spend some time describing this poison, including the risk of internal bleeding, vomiting, seizures and heart palpatations as you get steadily more and more afraid. 

Then the executioner brings out a mug of steaming hot chocolate. 

I don’t know about you, but if i’d been in space for an indefinite amount of time on what are presumably carefully calculated rations, I would be kicking aliens out of the way for that cup. 

cranquis ermedicine

First

ermedicine

I sat on a coffee table as I told them their loved one had died. 

I have been involved in some degree in numerous resuscitations and cardiac arrests throughout my time in healthcare. From a scribe through most of my time as a medical student, my experience in these situations has always felt safe and withdrawn. I was never responsible for their care, hardly if ever doing CPR, and I never notified the family. Looking back, I think that is what made the process a little bit more cut and dry. I was never the person comforting a family member, and I never was the person to notify a someone about their family.

This time was different.

For my last semester, I have been rotating at the hospital where I used to scribe. The responsibility I have been given in the ED at this hospital is tremendous; it is very rewarding to feel that kind of trust. In just over a month, I am going to graduate medical school, and my attendings have made it their mission to make me feel prepared for residency. As we stepped into the resus section of our emergency department to await the arrival of an EMS patient in cardiac arrest, my attending decided that they wanted me to run the room. They parked themselves in the corner and told me they would be there if I needed them. 

Despite the adrenaline surging through me, I remember it in its entirety. I remember the look of frustration on all of our faces as EMS brought the patient into the room receiving compressions through a hands free device as gastric contents bubbled out of their endotracheal tube. I remember the paramedic giving report. I remember asking for another round of epi as I began to re-intubate them, and remove the tube EMS placed in their esophagus. I remember the look all of us shared a few minutes later knowing that the patient’s prolonged downtime and co-morbidities made the chance of recovery abysmal. I looked towards my attending, and almost as if we were thinking the same thing, he moved forwards towards the bed and we all stopped.

I remember al of that, but it still felt safe and disconnected.

I sat on a coffee table as I told them their loved one had died. As I spoke, I saw their expressions shift from concern, to confusion, and finally to grief. It was not until that moment that I had ever really felt the sadness and grief of a family. The truth that my words carried in that moment changed that family’s life forever. I tried to be as compassionate as I could.

 In medical school, I have felt more responsibility with each year of training I complete. It has always felt rather abstract and protected, maybe by the length of my white coat or the lack of letters behind my name. Walking out of our consultation room, I finally felt the weight of my profession. For the fist time, it was real. This is it. 

cranquis

That is a major step in your growth as a physician. Thank you for sharing the details of your emotions with us!

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