Physician Assisted Suicide Case Study

In training it seems so much easier. “A patient is found lying on the ground motionless. Please assess the situation and declare patient assessment”.
Start with Danger. I am putting on gloves for personal hygiene (except I don’t actually have any). I am checking for danger for myself, the bystanders and the patient. I am looking high and looking low, and checking on and around the patient. There is no danger (hopefully).
Next is Response. Can you hear me? Open your eyes if you can hear me. What’s your name? Squeeze my hand if you can hear me. Obviously this does nothing, the patient is unconscious.
Of course, a teacher is always there, telling you if you are doing everything right. They also tell you the answers to the question and remind you what to do next. Of course, in a real situation, you won’t have your teacher, or anyone really, there to help you. …show more content…
After that you check the airways. Pistol grip and head tilt is much easier on a pretend patient who is actually alive and moves when you want them to. Luckily unconscious boy doesn’t have any ‘foreign fluids’ in his mouth, otherwise wiping it away with my bare hands would be pretty disgusting.
After this it’s pretty obvious he’s not breathing, although OF COURSE we have to check anyway. Looking, listening and feeling for breathing is much easier when you don’t actually have to try. In training all you have to do is pretend to search for it, and the teacher will tell you: “The patient is not breathing and is unconscious.” Then you commence ECC.
Of course, External Cardiac Compressions are SO much easier when all you have to do is ‘place the heel of the hand in centre of the patient’s chest’. Then you count until the teacher tells you the patient is