this patient really got me riled up!!
24-yr-old guy who underwent surgery last month under general anaesthesia. now, he's so scared of pain that the removal of stitches on his face will need to be done under general anaesthesia AGAIN! he won't even allow a catheter, no matter how small i tried to reason with him, to be inserted into his hand. after 10 minutes of negotiation & bargaining, he still refused & we decided to give him the "gas" to put him to sleep, a technique usually reserved for children.
in the end, the removal took less than 5 mins - a procedure that is usually done in the ward without any anaesthetic.
so, what's so unusual about this, you ask?? ok, get this.....
he is a 4th year medical student & in TWO YEARS, if he passes his exams, he could be serving the public, which means people like you and i. think about it - if he's terrified of needles himself, how is he going to administer an injection to his patients?
let's not even think whether he could stand the sight of vomit.
or blood.
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24 comments:
Did you ask him if he has learned with cadaver?
Wahoa... how much did the hospital charge him for the gas?
Luckily I'm not a doctor... Coz I have needle phobia too. Moreover I have blood phobia.
oh dear.... when he becomes doc.. or if he becomes a doc, will he grimace each time he pokes a needle on a patient? or his hand might shiver? or... he just simply poke without looking??
imagine he developed kidney issues like me and unable to take pain killers.
Haha...scardy cat! ;)
But then again, some people really have a phobia towards blood, needles etc.
oh oh.. i am a brave girl then doc!
XD
Yvonne,
i didn't ask that, neither would i want to ask how he would handle clinical duties as a med student. unless his needle phobia is resolved, he will under-perform as a doc.
his family has already incurred unnecessary expenses because of this.
TZ,
i wonder how you go thru those vaccinations when you travel abroad??
Claire,
all 3 scenarios are possible. just hope you are not on the receiving end!
Zewt,
i can't imagine!!
Mei Teng,
but then again, you wouldn't expect such people to be hospital workers.
Mich,
you have been very brave!
*pat on the back*
haha relax doc, I'm needle phobic myself even braving acupuncture & yet :p I always have to start a joke 1st b4 letting others poke the needle in :P didn't know can ask for gas !!
for his "case" maybe he is not afraid of sticking needles to others :(
The phobia developed after he's undergone the surgery last month; and he's already half way through medical school (ok, 2/3 actually). Maybe this incident will make him rethink whether this is right vocation for him. Bur even if he decides to finish the last 2 years, won't the exam system fail him if he has such phobia? Does the exam entail poking someone with needle, doc? Or maybe given time, he manage to overcome the needle phobia.
MissyC,
at least you allowed the needles to be inserted. for him, we had to grapple & hold him down, like those scenes at a psychiatric hospital.
i seriously hope he gets over the fear.
Kitty,
i don't think he realises his fear will hold him back from fully performing his duty as a doctor. the medical exams include written & clinical tests. the student examines the patient but will not do any procedure.
hope he gets over the fear.
there are always subclinical stuff for him to do. :)
oh.dear!
Good questions... I just don't see the nurses and doctors face. Close my eyes and take a breathe.
It's like a butcher suddenly turning vegetarian... how will he do a good job? And how long can he hide it?
Medie,
yeah, like fill up lab forms & fix up appointments for patients.
Jo,
well, there's still 2 more years before he graduates.
TZ,
very brave!
;)
Adino,
interesting comparison.
no one knows for sure how things will turn out for him.
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