Willed Death

Q. I’m pretty sure we explained our perception that this was going to be a futile exercise. The doc simply wasn’t having it. I just don’t think he has much of a grasp for what we do.

A. Well, a little frustration never killed anybody. You did some extra work on this call, but you didn’t say the lady regained pulses. I hope you had a chance to visit with the doc afterward, and ask him what he was thinking. I hope you really listened to his response.

In the end, we’re all just people. Sometimes the best you can hope for is to facilitate a future call for somebody.

Thom Dick has been involved in EMS for 40 years, 23 of them as a full-time EMT and paramedic in San Diego County. He is the quality care coordinator for Platte Valley Ambulance Service, a community-owned, hospital-based 9-1-1 provider in Brighton, CO. Thom is also a member of the EMS World editorial advisory board. E-mail boxcar_414@yahoo.com.