Some days, when I least expect it, certain calls mow me down in
ways I never thought possible. People ask me sometimes what the worst
call I have been on is. I don't usually entertain their morbid
curiosity.They are usually looking for grotesque stories that exceed
imagination. But most of the time, the gory, blood-filled calls or
the cardiac arrests really aren't my worst calls. They are
perfunctory and by-the-book. I usually have little, if any. time to
interact with my patients on truly critical calls. My worst calls
usually are borne from the depths of despair of humanity. The
patients who know and are conscious of how awful and hopeless their
situation is and yet are unable to do anything about it. Those are
the ones that pain me long after I have walked away.
We had one such call the other day. And I want to share it with
you, not to wow you with some tale of heroism or adrenalin-fueled
lifesaving. I share it with you because I want you to understand the
truly tragic calls that never cross anyone's mind when they ask what
the worst call ever was.
