In every aspect of the life we often say that the system works . If a murder is solved after several years , we say that the system works. We have been witnessing the political drama unfolding in DC.
I am not sure if the system is going to work - either way whatever your political view may be - Democrats are feeling that the system did not work in 2016 election and the republicans feel that same way about the Democratic party candidate and the FBI and the DOJ behavior.But I am talking about the day to day life where we come across things and feel that the system did not work. All of us have 'misconception' about our ability and be often 'feel' that we do not get what we 'deserve'. But I am talking about much simpler things like DEATH CERTIFICATE. That brings me to the today's story.
I saw this patient 5 years ago. she was 38 years old , obese and had multiple medical problems . To my recollection she was not working and she had medical disability at that young age . She was not a smoker nor was alcoholic , but had bad hand dwelt in her life . She had Lupus a deadly disease in some and many who have that diagnosis. She also was obese and she had TB-yes tuberculosis and had part of the lung taken out . In patient with Lupus,patient have multiple organ involvements - from skin to lung to kidney to pressure in lung circuit. She had scar tissues in her lungs and also had chronic pain and also had obesity and sleep apnea. She was short of breath and she did not do much exercise and had not lost much weight . The combination of all these factors had led to shortness of breath. I am sure if she could loose some weight , and exercise she may have have been that short of breath, Fortunately her fibrosis or scar tissue in her lungs though bad was stable. The pressure in lung circuit - called pulmonary pressure was mildly elevated . Her oxygen would drop bellow critical number and so she needed oxygen when she would walk . But being young , she did not like the idea of carrying the oxygen and so she was not using it most of the time . The oxygen transfer factor that we measure, was less than one third of normal and so no wonder she needed oxygen and was short of breath. She had sleep apnea and was not using the pressurized mask that she should use . But in all in spite of all these she was stable and we did not and could not change any medicines .
One day I got a call that she was in ER . In last 5 years or so that I took care of her , she was never in ER or hospitalized. I saw her in ER. She was quite short of breath and needed high flow oxygen delivered with pressurizes mask. Her husband was bed side . She had respiratory infection and that caused the pneumonia and since she was compromised ,she had acute respiratory failure . The ER doctor had started her on antibiotics and steroids and CT SCAN was planned soon . I discussed the situation with them and she was to be admitted to ICU. I told them that if the things do not work out she will be intubated and put on respirator and then we will see how she responds . With given pulmonary compromised the weaning off the respirator would be difficult if not impossible.
As I thought she was intubated and she had many other problems that are associated with sick patient . I would not discuss them at this time . But at the end of 17 days she was on maximum support on the respirator and she was on 100 % oxygen and high pressure and also had problem with blood pressure and also with blood count and she was not waking up..The discussion was on going with family on the poor out come and so finally we talked about the HOSPICE and withdrawing the life support . We knew that the end was near with or without life support . So may be on day 20 or so we stopped the respirator and she passed away. We now a days have ICU doctor and also Hospitalist and so I did talk to husband but did not expect death certificate to be brought to me .
15 days after this event my office staff told me that the husband was in my office to talk to me . I was not sure as to what was the reason . But I thought that he may have come to have 'closure' as he had not known all the problems that she had even though I had had told them when I met him in ER and then in ICU. I brought him in and he told me that they do not have the body to do the funeral. I was shocked . The lady dies more than 2 weeks ago . He told me that the hospital doctor mentioned a 'fall' in the death certificate and so the case was sent to medical examiner . Since the county did not have their own it was sent to different county ME . I did not know the name or the person. So I was not sure as what and how I can help. But I told him to call the ME office and tell them to call me to clarify any medical issues that may be holding the release of the body. I gave him my cell number. I git a call from the him that the ME secretary told them that she could not do anything and if I wanted I can call them . But it was up to ME . They would not call me . So I got the number for the ME office and called them I could not talk to ME but I explained the situation to the secretory and told her to have ME call me if he still has any questions or concerns before releasing the body.
A day latter I had death certificate brought to me and I signed it and told office staff to call the husband and inform him that it is done. So the system should have worked and the family should have gotten the body much sooner . But it did not , but finally the system DID WORK - BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.
I am not sure if the system is going to work - either way whatever your political view may be - Democrats are feeling that the system did not work in 2016 election and the republicans feel that same way about the Democratic party candidate and the FBI and the DOJ behavior.But I am talking about the day to day life where we come across things and feel that the system did not work. All of us have 'misconception' about our ability and be often 'feel' that we do not get what we 'deserve'. But I am talking about much simpler things like DEATH CERTIFICATE. That brings me to the today's story.
I saw this patient 5 years ago. she was 38 years old , obese and had multiple medical problems . To my recollection she was not working and she had medical disability at that young age . She was not a smoker nor was alcoholic , but had bad hand dwelt in her life . She had Lupus a deadly disease in some and many who have that diagnosis. She also was obese and she had TB-yes tuberculosis and had part of the lung taken out . In patient with Lupus,patient have multiple organ involvements - from skin to lung to kidney to pressure in lung circuit. She had scar tissues in her lungs and also had chronic pain and also had obesity and sleep apnea. She was short of breath and she did not do much exercise and had not lost much weight . The combination of all these factors had led to shortness of breath. I am sure if she could loose some weight , and exercise she may have have been that short of breath, Fortunately her fibrosis or scar tissue in her lungs though bad was stable. The pressure in lung circuit - called pulmonary pressure was mildly elevated . Her oxygen would drop bellow critical number and so she needed oxygen when she would walk . But being young , she did not like the idea of carrying the oxygen and so she was not using it most of the time . The oxygen transfer factor that we measure, was less than one third of normal and so no wonder she needed oxygen and was short of breath. She had sleep apnea and was not using the pressurized mask that she should use . But in all in spite of all these she was stable and we did not and could not change any medicines .
One day I got a call that she was in ER . In last 5 years or so that I took care of her , she was never in ER or hospitalized. I saw her in ER. She was quite short of breath and needed high flow oxygen delivered with pressurizes mask. Her husband was bed side . She had respiratory infection and that caused the pneumonia and since she was compromised ,she had acute respiratory failure . The ER doctor had started her on antibiotics and steroids and CT SCAN was planned soon . I discussed the situation with them and she was to be admitted to ICU. I told them that if the things do not work out she will be intubated and put on respirator and then we will see how she responds . With given pulmonary compromised the weaning off the respirator would be difficult if not impossible.
As I thought she was intubated and she had many other problems that are associated with sick patient . I would not discuss them at this time . But at the end of 17 days she was on maximum support on the respirator and she was on 100 % oxygen and high pressure and also had problem with blood pressure and also with blood count and she was not waking up..The discussion was on going with family on the poor out come and so finally we talked about the HOSPICE and withdrawing the life support . We knew that the end was near with or without life support . So may be on day 20 or so we stopped the respirator and she passed away. We now a days have ICU doctor and also Hospitalist and so I did talk to husband but did not expect death certificate to be brought to me .
15 days after this event my office staff told me that the husband was in my office to talk to me . I was not sure as to what was the reason . But I thought that he may have come to have 'closure' as he had not known all the problems that she had even though I had had told them when I met him in ER and then in ICU. I brought him in and he told me that they do not have the body to do the funeral. I was shocked . The lady dies more than 2 weeks ago . He told me that the hospital doctor mentioned a 'fall' in the death certificate and so the case was sent to medical examiner . Since the county did not have their own it was sent to different county ME . I did not know the name or the person. So I was not sure as what and how I can help. But I told him to call the ME office and tell them to call me to clarify any medical issues that may be holding the release of the body. I gave him my cell number. I git a call from the him that the ME secretary told them that she could not do anything and if I wanted I can call them . But it was up to ME . They would not call me . So I got the number for the ME office and called them I could not talk to ME but I explained the situation to the secretory and told her to have ME call me if he still has any questions or concerns before releasing the body.
A day latter I had death certificate brought to me and I signed it and told office staff to call the husband and inform him that it is done. So the system should have worked and the family should have gotten the body much sooner . But it did not , but finally the system DID WORK - BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.
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