The Ballad of Eric’s Prostate starts with an unusual finding hidden inside a patient’s jocks…
A Stroke of Insight
September 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment
A few years ago I was looking after an elderly woman in the emergency department who had suffered a stroke. She was aphasic — unable to understand speech or create comprehensible sentences. I explained to her family what had happened to her. Then her daughter asked me a question for which I hadn’t prepared an answer: “What does it feel like to have a stroke?”
Lessons from Osler 004
August 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Osler teaches us to treat the patient, not the disease. Even if the patient is difficult.
Banana Memories
July 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The associations that populate our minds are wonderful things. To what thoughts does your mind race on contemplation of this banana, I wonder?
Putting Patients at Ease
April 10, 2010 By 1 Comment
Bad News Broken Again
February 8, 2010 By 1 Comment
Choosing Life or Death
January 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Once Were Warriors
January 29, 2010 By 1 Comment
Blood slowly dripped from two linear slits on the left side of the man’s chest. He focused on the doctor with a wide eyed stare and spoke in an anxious whisper:
“Doc, don’t let me die… don’t let me die, doc.”
Bad News Broken
January 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The patient’s son and two daughters had said little during the family meeting. The older daughter steadied her sister’s trembling hand while the son stared at the doctor intently.
State of Confusion
December 28, 2009 By 1 Comment
The surgical team left the old man’s bedside as the ward round came to an end. “That chap’s really not with it is he?”, said the Surgeon to his House Officer. “Perhaps we should get the medics to have a look at him. Do you think his state of confusion is acute or chronic?”.
