Tough afternoon

[Skyrad 0]

Somedays my job is great and somedays its not. I spent this afternoon X raying a three week old baby, looking for eveidence of non accidental injury (NAI =Abuse) This baby was small, its skin covered with infectious rash, it has mouth ulcers. After checking the images I found ten fractured ribs, a spiral fracture in the bone of the upper left arm, and a fractured femur (thigh bone). This baby has been on this planet for three weeks.
The father was with the Nurse and in the room. The parents lost another baby last year aged six months, it also had broken bones and died of an infection. Sometimes its hard to keep a professional demeanor.

The other week a young woman came into A&E (ER) feeling 'ill' she was uncooperative. She said she needed the toilet she was complaining of abdomminal pains, she was making sounds like she was in pain whilst in the toilet, after twenty minutes or so she came out, blood was on the floor and she looked very unwell. She was taken back to the Resus area and a when questioned she said she had been bleeding into the toilet. The Nursing Sister went to get a sample of the blood from the toilet and to see if there was any matter in the blood. As she lent over the bright red blood splattered toilet bowl with a net like sieve, the dark red still water was disturbed as something moved under the bloody toilet water, it made her jump. Then as she looked again a babies foot broke the surface. She pulled the now still baby out of the water and ran it into resus where it was revived. The mother had known and it had been in there for at least ten minutes. She didn't want to have anything to do with it.
What is it about people that can treat thier own children this way... Can anyone explain, I just don't understand.

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[Nightingale 0]

oh good lord...

are you sure this little one doesn't have "brittle bone disease"? A friend of a friend went through all kinds of awful accusations (and arrest!) because their baby had broken ribs, and it turned out it was brittle bone, and the ribs were broken just by picking Amy up.

I'm not sure whether to hope its brittle bone, because I don't want to think about a parent doing that to a child, or hope its abuse, because then the child can be placed elsewhere and have a chance at a normal life...

either way... its just AWFUL!!!!

[Skyrad 0]

No I'm afraid that metabolic bone disorders in this case are not suspected, and so far not apparent on any investigation. The injuries are consistent with the baby being shaken and the limbs twisted.

Also the parents were arrested after the death of the last child, evidence is still being examined.

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[Malfunction 0]

This is horrible. Some people deserve a bullet. And to think that I am an EMT in training to help these people...

I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it.
- Voltaire

[skipro101 0]

Quote

oh good lord...

are you sure this little one doesn't have "brittle bone disease"? A friend of a friend went through all kinds of awful accusations (and arrest!) because their baby had broken ribs, and it turned out it was brittle bone, and the ribs were broken just by picking Amy up.

I'm not sure whether to hope its brittle bone, because I don't want to think about a parent doing that to a child, or hope its abuse, because then the child can be placed elsewhere and have a chance at a normal life...

either way... its just AWFUL!!!!

dito to that. I watched a TLC special on that condition..some baby in alaska...doctors there didnt know of the disease and the mother was in jail for months before they realized....

I just went on a suicide call. What a shitty way to start the day. Sometimes i wonder if I should stop this volunteet emt thing. I think its changing me. Im making jokes about trauma and death to deal with everything I see, and its bothering my SO and friends. Time to hang it up I think.

[Skyrad 0]

Thats one of the hardest things, you feel so angery that someone can do something like this to a child. You're in the room with the number one suspect. But you don't know who did it, maybe it was the father, or the mother. It could have been the babysitter or even thir boyfrind for all you know. No matter how likely its the parents you just don't know. You have to give them the benifit of the doubt whilst looking out for the best interests of the child and walking the fine line of forensic requirments while quite upset. Without a doubt its the hardest part of our job.

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[Skyrad 0]

My Ex wife could never even look at the TV when ER was on. You develope the 'black humour' to deal with the stress you face everyday. Its who you share these jokes with that is important. A 'normal' person would never understand and just think you're sick. How else do you deal with your feelings? We see loads of patients in a day, they are scared and angry, frightened and worried. The last thing they need is for us to be in pieces because of the last patient we saw and of whom they know nothing. So each patient has to be like the first of the day. No matter what you've just been dealing with. So we dissociate ourselfs from things by turning the worst things into humour that gets us through. We deal with it later. But if you only hear the joke, you wouldn't understand the whole picture. Stick with it mate.

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[lawrocket 3]

Brittle bone disease would usually not be seen with a spiral fracture of the humerus. Grabbing the baby's arm and shaking it is almost always the source.

Rough day, indeed. That's why I quit medicine. I couldn't handle it.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[damion75 0]

Guys who do what you do leave me in awe. I understand how tough it is but I am very impressed that you can keep doing it.

Think of all the good things you do and take strength from that. Good luck.
Frank.

***************

Not one shred of evidence supports the theory that life is serious - look at the platypus.

[skyesspot 0]

Reading this gave me chills. You are truly a hero for doing what you do.

Life is too short. Don't sweat the small stuff.

[boxingrrl 0]

Wow. Kudos to you and your co-workers for doing what needs to be done. People are just unbelievable.

If you need some (non work-related) humor, you should really read the "sneeze" thread. (just not while eating or drinking-- you might need medical assistance yourself then.)