“There’s no heartbeat.”
Three words no one ever wants to hear.
Three words no one ever wants to deliver.
And yet, as a community of physicians, we deliver those crushing words on a daily basis. None of us would ever take the task of bearing this piece of news lightly, but for me, it was not until I was on the receiving end of them that I truly grasped how profoundly a physician can shape the experience of a family member or patient in this particular depth of despair.
I have delivered this news more times than I can count. I would like to say that I recall each time vividly, that I remember each patient’s name, story, and the faces of each family member as I broke the news that ended their world.
Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
