My Medical Skills Give Me Experience Points

A senior associate chief physician, full of concerns, advised,
"It’s not that we don’t want to play it safe, but there are only two options for the patient. Either take this opportunity to remove the tumor, or close the chest immediately and pursue conservative treatment. Choosing conservative treatment requires at least half a year before a second thoracotomy can be attempted. By then, the tumor would have already spread. Moreover, it’s uncertain whether the patient can survive the next half year."
Director Le patiently explained the situation to this senior colleague.
Actually, he believed this senior colleague already understood the consequences of conservative treatment.
This moment greatly tested a doctor’s sense of responsibility.
Taking the risk to remove the tumor greatly benefits the patient, but it comes with significant risks for the doctor.
Although a surgical consent form would be signed before the operation, if the patient were to actually die on the operating table, it would still cause considerable trouble. It could negatively impact the doctor’s reputation.
Other interests would also be harmed.
After Director Le explained this in public, the person stopped talking.
Soon, Doctor Feng rushed to the operating theater.
Zhou Can, who was somewhat of an apprentice to him, greeted him respectfully upon arrival.
Doctor Feng was as cold and reticent as ever.
He just nodded slightly and hummed in acknowledgment.
His gaze towards Dr. Guan conveyed, "It’s normal to have issues occur; there isn’t an anesthesiologist who hasn’t had a patient die." Unexpectedly, after meeting, instead of blaming Dr. Guan, Doctor Feng offered him warmth and reassurance.
"It’s easy to say, but when you actually see a patient nearly die from anesthesia, it’s hard to dispel the psychological shadow quickly. I... really have no confidence in this surgery anymore; I can’t take any more risks."
Dr. Guan hung his head in shame, resembling a child who has done wrong and is confessing in front of a parent.
"You’ve been an anesthesiologist for so many years; it’s not like you haven’t seen patient fatalities. From the moment we begin our medical education, we should understand that this path is filled with thorns, and ahead lie countless hardships and cliffs that we must conquer. It’s not frightening when mishaps occur; what’s terrifying is failing to learn from them and falling into the same pit twice."
Doctor Feng’s words deeply moved every medical personnel present.
Yes, where has the initial passion and drive gone since we started medical school?
Which medical student pursued medicine merely to land a good job, or just for the money? Having a respectable job and a good social status are just part of becoming physicians.
Most of us think more about saving lives and being angels of this world.
Saving the lives of patients and alleviating their pains are what every medical student truly aspires to achieve. It represents the purest sentiments of doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.
It’s about the passion for the medical profession.
"I... will deeply reflect, adjust my attitude, and strive to return to normal work soon. Please allow me to go home and rest for a couple of days for some personal adjustment."
After hearing this, Dr. Guan didn’t think of backing out anymore.
At least, he wasn’t considering leaving the anesthesiology field.
"I won’t approve this leave. You have to pick yourself up where you fell. I can help you with the anesthesia for this operation, but I still hope you will take the lead on the anesthesia work, including managing the entire perioperative period." Doctor Feng was somewhat colder and more serious, but his method of teaching his disciples was highly effective.
Whether teaching Zhou Can or Dr. Guan, he always tailored his instruction to the individual, especially when Dr. Guan faced significant challenges. Unlike other senior doctors who might simply scold them severely without thought, he always tried to help them emerge from their shadows.
"Okay!"
Dr. Guan agreed reluctantly, but eventually accepted.
With Doctor Feng’s support, if he continued to shrink back, he would truly become a hopeless case.
"Director Xue, coordinate with the family; you can go ahead with the surgery. For this operation, you don’t have to worry about the anesthesia, our department will fully commit to it."
After advising Dr. Guan, Doctor Feng then assured Director Xue.
Things were done systematically.
"Alright, thank you! Thank you for the anesthesiology doctors guarding us during this high-risk surgery. Director Le is currently discussing with the family outside, and if the family agrees to take the risk for this surgery, we will proceed immediately."
Director Xue expressed her gratitude.
She was always gentle in dealing with people, making one feel extremely comfortable, like a breath of spring.
Doctor Feng turned his attention back to Dr. Guan.
"Tell me, what went wrong in this surgery? What have you learned?"
"There were several mistakes. Usual practice before general anesthesia, I administered scopolamine to the patient but overlooked potential risks. That’s one. After the incident, I assisted Director Hu in rescuing the patient, focusing solely on quickly restoring independent breathing and heartbeat, yet neglected the risk of blood clots in the patient’s pleural effusion, ultimately causing the first rescue attempt to fail due to a blocked drainage tube. That’s the second mistake."
Dr. Guan introspectively reflected on two errors made.
"If I encounter a patient with spontaneous pneumothorax in the future, undergoing thoracic closed drainage surgery and anesthesia, I will opt for double-lumen endotracheal intubation instead of blindly pursuing speed. I cannot look for shortcuts."
Dr. Guan made a profound self-critique and reflection.
After listening, however, Doctor Feng was somewhat unsatisfied.