For over a year I have poured my ♥ into a particular patient. I know the entire family, extended family, family from out of town. I've faught tirelessly to get this patient expensive equipment and manipulated my schedule for them. When they've cancelled or been in the hospital I have called personally to make sure all was ok. I have actually thought about this case away from work. I have felt worry about the way this patient was hurt.Fast forward to this morning.
I bust my a$$ on a 12-mile run.
Often I think of this patient as he will never walk again, yet I CAN run....so I do not give up.
After getting ready for the morning I stand happily at the kitchen counter and prepare to have breakfast when...
BAM.
Front page of the paper is his story.
How he and his wife have lied about how and why he was injured.
They lied and tried to collect millions from worker's compensation.
They are now facing charges of fraud and their mugshots grimaced at me from the paper.
I'm so sad.
Maybe my job sets me up for this. Maybe how I was raised makes this hard for me.
I am not sure.
I question treating everyone as decent human beings, now I wonder about intent.
I suppose one important lesson Mom & Dad taught me was this:
It's what you learn from the situation that dictates if it was a success or failure.
I'm still trying to decide which way to go.
2 comments:
Even if the allegations are true, and if he got injured how they say he did... there is no doubt in my mind that you would have treated him the exact same way you have the last year plus. You might have THOUGHT a little differently about him, but I don't think you would have (or should have) invested yourself in his care any less. You're a great doctor, that's what great doctors do. :)
What you will learn from this situation is the power to persevere! To emerge a stronger person...
You were given the opportunity to help this man; no matter how he was injured you would have treated him the same way that you did. You were given this opportunity to teach this man what a decent human being looks like and how a decent human being treats others.
You may not see it now, but I trust that you will see the positive in this situation.
Post a Comment