When The PATIENT Has The POWER

As I flipped through a reader’s digest magazine,i found this article that hit my thoughts…….

She walked in,youthful in her mid-40s.Her referring doc had told her she had a lung tumor,yet she was calm.A doc’s desk suggests the power of the physician.But when my patient spoke- “No blood;I am a Jehovah’s Witness”-the balance of power shifted.Her beliefs were as strong as my convictions about the importance of surgery.

I explained that the mass in her lung would likely require removing half of the organ. “Ok,”she answered, “but no transfusions”.

She wouldn’t let me store her own blood either.I had never given a transfusion for the procedure,but I always reserved blood.Still I was young,brash,sure I could do it.if she bled in my surgery,could I keep my promise?Was my obligation to the morals of my profession-to save lives-or to her beliefs?What would her life be likeif I removed her cancer,but gave a transfusion?

I decided to proceed.During surgery,an artery split,spilling blood.Not much,but under the circumstances,a tsunami.My finger closed the hole,giving me time to think.I applied a clamp,& contonued.

I felt like a pilot who had lost an engine & managed to land.She was OK,but the possibility of deathdah been present.I shudder still,thinking of it.I inhaled,my assistant stopped sweating,& the anaesthetist ast down.The three of us felt as if we needed the transfusion.The rest of the operation was normal.

We surgeons have advanced technology,instruments & medicines.We’re competent.But patients continue to test us,to challenge our judgement as well as our skills.

From Larry Zaroff,MD,in The New York Times.