Code MD

I get stressed everytime I get critical young patients. The main reason I did not go into pediatrics was that it really breaks my heart to have children get sick. So I went into adult medicine but even then I still get the teens and young adults with critical illnessess who are placed under my care. I could get no way out of this for there are so many critical and indigent patients we get in our small ICU. In a few months we would be transfering to our bigger unit which I'm sure would be filled up in no time. There's sure to be more interesting days and sleepless nights ahead for me.

Have a septic, hemolytic anemia patient at the ICU. No more fever for the past 24 hours, antibiotics given for the past 8 days, still needs more blood for transfusion. Blood bank would not give any more blood since they already pulled so much and still have to replace about 12 bags. Said they need to leave some blood for emergency cases. What they don't seem to realize is that this is an emergency too. Sure, the family could have procured more blood for the patient, should have brought in more donors but I have to exhaust all means to give blood for my patient short of giving my own incompatible blood. I only wanted the blood to tide her over for the next days until more donors can be found. Finally wrangled 1 bag for this morning. Dragged my boss over to the ICU to see the patient. I know she couldn't qoute policy to me while seeing my poor patient struggle. I think it helps to put a human face on suffering so all those who dictate policy would think twice before voting someth...