Indexing Title: NALUDINOs Medical Anecdotal Report [07-10]

MAR Title: “The retired doctor”

Date of Medical Observation: October 2007

Narration:

An elderly woman was brought into the emergency room. She had a swollen left wrist. She was apparently seen at the operating room the previous day. Her companions told me that she has a fracture. A posterior mold was applied during the previous consult and the patient was subsequently sent home.

At home, the patient allegedly had fits of anger and removed the posterior mold. Her companions tried to tell not to do so but she could not be reasoned with and even shouted invectives at them.

The following morning she was brought back to the emergency room. That was the time that I saw her. I explained to her the importance of immobilization. She was listening intently. I was surprised when she talked to me using medical terms. She accepted my explanation, smiled at me and gave me an assurance that she will follow her doctor’s advice. It was then that I was told, my patient was a doctor. She was a retired pathologist. She was suffering from gradual memory loss. They were suspecting Alzheimer’s disease.

Insights (Physical, Psychosocial, Ethical) (Discovery, Stimulus, Reinforcements):

Looking at the patient, I felt a certain sadness in my heart. Here she was, no doubt previously a proud doctor, staring blankly at the space in front of her. I couldn’t help but think of my own weaknesses, my won mortality.

I am also a proud doctor. What if the same thing happens to me? Nothing is certain it seems. We can never be sure of what lies in the future for us. Live our life fully without stepping on someone else’s toes. We should not be afraid of what life would throw at us. What we should do is prepare ourselves for any eventuality.