Another cough. I look up from the care plan. There’s a look of distress. And blood, lots of it.
We stare at each other. It’s a brief glance, but also the most meaningful unspoken exchange. The sheepish grin turns to a look of fear, horror – finality.He knows. I know. This is it; this is dying.
Watch Dr Simon Judkins re-tell Dignity
Dignity by Dr Simon Judkins appears in EMERGENCY: Real Stories from Australia’s ED Doctors, available now from Penguin Books Australia.
Dr Simon Judkins
Dr Simon Judkins has been a doctor for over twenty years, and has worked as an Emergency Physician for fifteen of those. He has worked in Emergency Departments across Melbourne and regional Victoria, holds numerous positions with the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine and the Australian Medical Association, and is a regular contributor to public discussions on issues relating to public hospitals and public health.
Real ED Stories 