Descision

I thought about just picking him up and throwing him on the gurney. In his acute medical status, he couldn't have put up much of a fight. There were a lot of witnesses however and I knew that ultimately, the litigation and resulting loss of my career would not be worth it, even if it did save his life.

My medic, myself, the ambulance medic and the base station doc all tried unsuccessfully to convince our patient that he needed to go. I appreciated his concern. No one wants a collection agency calling at all hours demanding payment for an ambulance ride to the hospital, an ER visit and the resultant medications. He said that he had been through the collection process before, I believed him. But still, he needed to go.

As I had recently been through a call where a person with a similar medical condition had not survived her ordeal, each refusal was like a sharp fingernail, picking at a scab on my emotional well being.

Our patient wanted to wait until a clinic opened in the morning, then have his wife drive him for treatment. That was not acceptable to us, as the medication that was being given to him would wasn't working as well we would have liked and would have worn off well before then.

Finally, we badgered him to have his wife drive him to the ER immediately, rather than wait the six hours until the clinic opened. Hopefully, the medication would last until the ride was complete and he would survive the trip.

I was more than a little concerned that the medication would only last long enough for our patient to make it into the jurisdiction of the neighboring city fire department. At least then, It would be them who would be attempting resuscitation efforts on the side of a dark road, worrying about the patient dying and the crew being hit by a drunk driver. Sometimes, it's a matter of self preservation.

Our patient stood up and struggled to get into the bedroom where he found a shirt and some shoes. He was noticeably paler upon his return to the living room, his distress level had increased. He looked at me and asked if he could go with us.

Inwardly, my relief bordered on elation. The path to his death had just been lengthened. The gurney was back inside the apartment and our patient loaded upon it in just a few seconds. He was loaded on gone within a few more minutes.

The irony of the situation was not lost on me as the incident came to a close.  Our previous customer couldn't deal with her life and used our services needlessly, without ever thinking of the bill. Yet, this patient, who truly needed our intervention and  transportation by ambulance, was willing to risk death over paying the bill.

In the end, it wasn't our persuasion or the pleading of his wife that caused our patient to change his mind and allow us to transport him. It was the effort of putting on a shirt that pushed him over the edge. Simple as that.

Thanks for reading,
A relieved Schmoe