Today, JTL was preparing to discharge a young girl with abdominal pain, vomiting and dehydration who had been admitted to the emergency department during the previous night. In fact, the girl likely did not require admission and had undergone a battery of tests, none of which indicated a serious pathologic condition. JTL consulted a pediatric gastroenterologist on staff, whose initial response was to order a whole new battery of laboratory tests. JTL contacted the gastroenterologist and informed her that the purpose of the consultation was to reassure the patient's mother, not to prolong the child's hospital stay. Ultimately, the pediatric gastroenterologist agreed with JTL's impression, the child was discharged and the mother was content.
Some battles can wait for another day.
Although the initial decision was heart wrenching enough, SEF was surprised to discover that saying goodbye to her patients was still more difficult. She has always thought of the physician-patient relationship as a partnership in which the patient plays an active role. For some patients, this was a difficult concept. SEF has hoped that because of their experience with her, these patients will now be able to ask questions, weigh decisions and be more assertive in demanding excellence in their medical care. She hopes that she has touched their lives as much as they have touched hers, and her former partners believe that she has more than met this goal.