Stalling

February 2, 2010 on 1:59 pm | In Medicine, Thoughts | 7 Comments

I watched an episode of scrubs once and during the episode, Dr. Cox came out with a phrase (the exact wording of which I cannot remember).

“Everything you do in medicine is a stall.”

And it is. Every disease you treat, every symptom you manage, every wound you stitch or tumour you excise; it’s all just stalling for time. It’s a pessimistic viewpoint, but the universal truth is that everyone stops bleeding one way or another. Fight as hard as you like, but in the grand scheme of things you lose. The bigger picture is a grim one.

The other day on the ward, a patient arrested. Staff performed CPR, successfully, and he was resuscitated. Three hours later, despite the best efforts of everyone involved, he died.

At first glance, we lose, death wins, but there is one more thing to this story. Three hours was long enough for his daughter to come and see him, talk to him, say goodbye to him. Before that I kind of agreed with Dr Cox, but actually sometimes, despite the worst, we still pull some semblance of victory from the jaws of defeat.

And I think that’s enough.

It’s not always about the bigger picture.

7 Comments »

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  1. Prolonging :)

    Comment by teacherface — February 9, 2010 #

  2. This posts sounds like it could come from a Grey’s Anatomy scene. That is, well said.
     
    What’s the close-up pic?

    Comment by Flix — February 13, 2010 #

  3. @Flix: A close up of a watch/clock face, maybe?

    Comment by Mia — February 13, 2010 #

  4. I’ve never seen Grey’s Anatomy, surprisingly what with being a medical student and all. Never watched House either, probably more surprisingly.
     
    It’s a watch face: the big metal band at the bottom is the minute hand, the shiny silver thing on the left is an hour marker and the four lines are the second hand. The picture was taken over 3.5 seconds or so.

    Comment by Callan — February 15, 2010 #

  5. House is good at least the first couple of series; there’s a massive cast change after about series three and I didn’t like it so much after then; there also seemed to be less focus on each case which was a real shame because the cases are really what it’s all about with House – it was originally going to be a documentary about Really Fucking Weird Conditions To Get but then they made it into a drama about a doctor who specialises in Really Fucking Weird Conditions To Get and also happens to be incredibly cynical, misanthropic, vycodin addicted, hot, and limpy.
     
    Grey’s Anatomy… I used to like it but it’s all emotional and whiny which I’m not any more so now I find it just tedious.
     
    And I’ve always liked that picture.
     
    And yes, everything *is* a stall. But like you say it’s worth it sometimes.
     
    xxx

    Comment by Jenny — February 15, 2010 #

  6. It took me a while to see the watch, even after you explained each part. Tres cool and very apt. I still like Grey’s Anatomy. I guess a part of me is a bit emotional and whiny, though. I keep meaning to watch House, but I have this thing where I have to watch things through from the beginning and so I need to start the first series at some point and work my way up.

    Comment by Flix — February 18, 2010 #

  7. They ruined Grey’s around season 6…
    .
    massive boo

    Comment by teacherface — February 23, 2010 #

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