Friday, October 21, 2011
I'm ending this medicine block on call, standing by while one of my patients slowly dies.

She's 95, a DNR, and this is what she wanted: an unexciting death.

But still, I wish there was a way to make it easier for her family to watch... she's comfortable, they agree that this is what she wanted...  but it's not easy to stand vigil when you know the outcome and are just waiting for it to happen.

The end of a block is less exciting when it coincides with end of a life.

Ironically, tomorrow is the start of a new rotation, and the start of some new lives as I head into the world of OB.

Talk about the circle of life...

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About Me

I am a Family Medicine intern at a community hospital in Indiana, navigating the new world of being a physician. I am privileged to work in a field I love, where every day is a new and unpredictable challenge.
I am not only a doctor, but also a cyclist, runner, DIYer in the making, lover of the outdoors, traveler, and human.
Human, MD is a glimpse into the world of a young doctor who is just trying to stay true to herself through the grueling whirlwind of residency.

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