Role Reversal
Even though at and I have never had children, I had always imagined that if we did, I would be the strict authoritarian one, and he would be the nurturing pal one.
We've had Pat's six year old niece, Hanna, over for a few days, and I'm finding that our roles have been reversed a bit, and I find it quite interesting.
While I realize that a few days cannot possibly make a parent, It's been enlightening to see Patrick and his adorable little niece together.
Monday, July 07, 2008
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Death on the Hospital Floor
I find the death of a patient on the floor of a waiting room at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn is deeply disturbing.
When I lived in New York City, Kings County has the hospital my family used. I had a brother and sister born there. I remember my mother telling me that my little brother was going to die (he had diarrhea as a preemie), but he didn't, and she always credited Kings County with saving his life.
Over the years and miles away, I'm out of the loop about conditions at Kings County, so to see such a horrific thing happen in the 21st century in a major American city is shocking.
To see the patient on the floor as security personnel and medical staff (who have taken an oath to care) ignore her makes my blood boil.
It's clear to me that Kings County has a culture in which doctors can feel okay with disregarding a human being on the floor.
A couple of weeks ago, I had a conversation with a friend of mine who is a doctor. She is a smart, wonderful and caring person and she is deeply frustrated with all the social issues that she encounters from patients who refuse to take care of themselves to turning away those who cannot pay. I mentioned reading about a woman who died in a waiting room while medical staff ignored her and a janitor sweeped around her
Despite some reports to the contrary, it sucks to grow up poor.
I grew up hearing how some social workers would speak to my mother (this was a few, most were good and some were great) and how she had to bite her lip, and how angry that made me because even as a child I knew she was being mistreated.
While I do understand my friend’s issues, I did explain some of my experiences and what I see as a cycle of mistrust between doctors and patients that can spin out of control.
When I lived in New York City, Kings County has the hospital my family used. I had a brother and sister born there. I remember my mother telling me that my little brother was going to die (he had diarrhea as a preemie), but he didn't, and she always credited Kings County with saving his life.
Over the years and miles away, I'm out of the loop about conditions at Kings County, so to see such a horrific thing happen in the 21st century in a major American city is shocking.
To see the patient on the floor as security personnel and medical staff (who have taken an oath to care) ignore her makes my blood boil.
It's clear to me that Kings County has a culture in which doctors can feel okay with disregarding a human being on the floor.
A couple of weeks ago, I had a conversation with a friend of mine who is a doctor. She is a smart, wonderful and caring person and she is deeply frustrated with all the social issues that she encounters from patients who refuse to take care of themselves to turning away those who cannot pay. I mentioned reading about a woman who died in a waiting room while medical staff ignored her and a janitor sweeped around her
Despite some reports to the contrary, it sucks to grow up poor.
I grew up hearing how some social workers would speak to my mother (this was a few, most were good and some were great) and how she had to bite her lip, and how angry that made me because even as a child I knew she was being mistreated.
While I do understand my friend’s issues, I did explain some of my experiences and what I see as a cycle of mistrust between doctors and patients that can spin out of control.
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