Most of us would try as hard as possible not to step into the hospital, to have nothing related to it. Hospital is synonym to sick, death, dirty, and all sorts of infections. Admission to hospital is suffering.
Yet, some will find all ways to get admitted to the hospital. I have seen quite some diagnosis such as " Poor oral intake and patient requested admission". Those 'patient requested admission population' are generally from the low socioeconomy status group, prisoners, intravenous drug users, and those with very poor family support group.
The first one, Ah Tat is his name. Every time we discharged him, he will return to our door steps on the third day without fail. Every time with the same complaint. He was not able to control fluid intake, subsequently taxed the ailing heart, ended up with heart failure symptoms. Despite giving the best medications, he did not want to take because he believed taking too much medications will do him more harm. So if I am on call and he is admitted, I do not need to clerk him, simply give him some advice and a nice bed. That's all.
The second case, 77 years old elderly, initially having acute renal failure, requiring dialysis. But the children strongly believe dialysis will do more harm than good. By going against doctors advice, the patient was going downhill. Currently, her kidneys is damaged beyond repair. But her will to live is strong. She had multiple episode of severe ulcers bleed, the next day I come, she is still alive. The daughter refused to take back the mother because apparently no brothers and sisters will take the responsibility to take care of the mother in the care towards the end and there were no maid at home. The best option is to let the staff nurse to take the responsibility of the children to take care of the mother. So until now, we still can't discharge her.
The third case, a 30+ guy, actively injecting drugs, despite went in and out institution, still unable to stop this habit. He would come in every other week for worsening abdominal distention. His liver was already cirrosed, because of viral hepatitis. When he was in the second home, he wreaked havocs. The staff nurses loathed him because he stole their ketchup. However, he has passed away unfortunately due to severe liver failure.
Hospital is not only the place for the sick. It is also the place for the unwanted, the lonely, the leftover, the unemployed, and those who wanted free food with some hospitality. My hospital door is always open (because there is no door!). Welcome to our second home.
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