Indexing Title:  RJPeralta’s Medical Anecdotal Report 08-07
MAR Title:  Borrowed
Date of Observation:  August 2008

     As doctors, we accepted the task of providing our fellow beings the opportunity to free themselves from diseases.  For one basic reason:   to prolong life. 

     One duty night, the emergency room was unexpectedtly quiet with minimal number of consults.  Then, suddenly out of the stillness of the night, there appeared a flock of people rushing one of the stretchers in our direction.

     What came next is a sight of a young man, around his twenties, stiff as a log, white as paper, with blood and brain parts oozing out from the two holes in his head.  ABCs of trauma was initiated while procuring the history from one of the relatives.  The mother reportedly heard a gun hot coming from her sons’ room and upon entering, saw her son bathing in his own blood.  No one possibly knew why he would do such a thing.  But according to them, this is not the first time he did such a thing.  After a number of attempts, he was successful.  Few minutes of resuscitation, he succumbed to death.

Insight: (Physical, Ethical, Psychosocial)
(Discovery, Reinforcement, Stimulus)

Life is a “something” borrowed from God, a means for us, mortals to experience His creations in a span of time only He could tell.  

In our stay in this world, as hours turn to days then weeks then years, we must try to enrich ourselves to make us worthy of this borrowed time.   But why do some people want to take their own life?  Do we have the right to do so?  And in our part, as doctors, do we have the right to prolong it?  Who gave us the nod that we have?  Whatever our answers to those questions is all up to us.  I believe there is no wrong or right answer because God gave us free will.  A free will to choose what steps to take.  It’s our choice.

We walked this path only once so we must exert all efforts to make it worthwhile whatever role we play – a doctor or a patient.

     Thank you and Good Morning!