The last student consult

I’ve officially finished with hospital rotations for the year, which basically means it’s time to knuckle down for some serious cramming (and lots of chocolate and coffee consumption) before the finals in 2 weeks. 

My last consultation yesterday took place in the orthopaedic outpatient clinic.

I was tasked to see a high functioning schizophrenic man who had sustained a scaphoid fracture after he  was hit by a car, and had come in for a review of his injury.

It has been more than a year since my mental health rotation, more than a year since I had the incredible privilege to listen to terrifying tales only the dark abyss of the human mind can conjure, where the only limiting factor to a patient’s suffering was the extent of his florid imagination and subconscious driven by a disease physically invisible to the rest of the world. I listened to stories of rat boy and spider boy, of white witches that come to taunt through the night, of guts that levitated from out of an abdomen, a foot that had the capability of rotating 360˚ on its own, of voices in the attic/fireplace/sink, of transistor radios and television personalities speaking of a revolt. What a life it must be to believe, see and hear all these on a daily basis, it would drive anyone mad and to the brink of suicide. 

I had forgotten what a crippling, lonely disease mental illness is.

So on this last day. I sat on the bed and looked at my patient, my heart swelling with empathy, reminding myself that he needed not just my kind words, but an objective assessment and plan with which he could follow. I sat and listened as he held a conversation with me, smiling, nodding, laughing, sometimes nervous and unsure. I learnt that he had a job working as a pizza delivery boy, that he was hardworking and contributing citizen to society, that he was coping well on his medications. And in that moment I marvelled, at the great wonder and miracle of medicine. At how science, curiosity and the love for mankind has made living better for some people, and how privileged I am to be part of this cause, this profession.

I am so humbled.

I hope to see you all on the other side, after the exams, hopefully victorious.

Wish me luck.

I can’t wait to be the doctor that serves you.

November 10, 2012. Uncategorized. 2 comments.