Doctor, it is all your fault

Being an emergency physician really takes gut to be one. Several doctors including me are facing an allegation of patient mismanagement at this moment, it started with poor communication between a colleague of mine and a patient’s family. They nearly had argument in ED, and later I took over the case as the shift changed. I didn’t have any quarrel with any members of family but patient made a worse turn in outcome, he suddenly had right side weakness and it became apparent that this patient had stroke. I don’t believe I have done anything wrong or did not do things that could have changed patient’s progression. Legally and morally I stand firmly on the ground as I have done the best for this patient. It just that this incident strikes me deeply in my heart. What I have done to deserve this? Nowadays, I have to say that not a lots, but increasingly the patients and their family take our work for granted if you treat them and make them well, because that’s doctors’ job. When things are not going the way the family plan, or the patient’s condition became worse, doctors are to be blamed for or be responsible. I am not sure if this has to do with our culture, I have seen so many times in my own department in Taipei, but I don’t recall similar issues when I was training in the states. This is really a big stress for being an ED physician here, most local patients came to ED expecting a “quick fix” of their problem as oppose to going to a regular clinic/medical office for a complete evaluation and treatment. And the nature of acute state of the illness, family and the patients want “rapid” change in a better way in ED. They think you are neither incompetent nor not caring enough to their lovely one when patient is not feeling better. It is all doctors’ faults.
What do I do when someone saying that to me? What do I do? What have I done to deserve this? I am a doctor, I am not God. I can do my best to help every single patient, but I can’t make everyone lived happily and healthy.

Yesterday's blue mood

Yesterday I was in a bad mood, well! blue mood actually. The minute I stepped into my emergency department, the blue cloud came over my head. The emergency room was full of the patients, my department is small, I was the only doctor to care all patients with medical problems. There were more than 20 patients left from day shift, plus 3 new patients waiting to be seen. 15 minutes later after arrival in ED, my colleague called me and told me about the update of a patient complaining of ED service, the development was not promising and in fact upsetting. Suddenly my blue mood was worsened, I felt speechless but at the same time, I felt like to raise my voice and yield at someone at once. Then I realized that my patient was sitting right in front of me, staring at me with a puzzle look, as if the doctor was going crazy soon. In the other end, one nurse was telling me new complains from patients in the observation area regardless no attention to her from me at all.
Life goes on, yesterday was history already, I survived as usual.