Recently on paeds prac I found it extremely difficult when young children are hospitalised due to irresponsible parenting. A young girl sustained a C1/2 spinal cord injury due to a MVA as a result of the mother being high and crashing into a tree. Due to the mothers state she sustained no injuries however her perfectly normal daughter is now unable to spontaneously move any limbs and is only able to blink eyes and mime words through facial expression. The mother now racked with guilt very rarely visits her daughter who has been welcomed into the hospital family.
This situation for me was very confronting as I was to treat this girl and liaise with the family. I had to put all personal feelings aside and be professional in front of the family. No matter what I though about them for the events that occurred I had to treat them the same as any other parent and still provide all the advice and education that I would any one else. It was extremely difficult not to be judgemental but I had to maintain professionalism and constantly think of providing the same service I would normally provide.
This is one of the more upsetting aspects of our job but necessary none the less
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1 comment:
This would have been an awful situation! It sounds like you dealt with it in a very mature way though. It is hard when you believe one thing, but have to act another! I dont envy the position you were put in.
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