Of Late

watching the juniors in the er now gives me a glimpse as to how much we've grown (clinically, i mean) this past one year. they are fairly lost (but finding their way round quickly) and are clueless about many medical conditions. not only that, they are still very sensitised.

case in point: young foreign worker found collapsed at worksite, apparently electrocuted. arrived in the er asystolic. after half and hour of resuscitation, the doctors called it, and i saw the shock on their faces as everything was turned off. one exclaimed, "but he's too young!" i just didn't know what to say when i heard that.

central hospital's emergency is sometimes closed several times a day, and during that time, all ambulances are diverted to the grand ol' dame. not surprisingly the p2 area becomes quite crowded, and the patients resign themselves to a long wait. what i found interesting was the various ways that the patients occupied themselves. most slept but there were those extroverts who struck up a conversation with the person in the next trolley, those who read (reader's digest and novels) and a young man who must have finished half a book of soduku while waiting.

since the staff are so busy, we medical students act as nannies, making sure patients don't fall out of the trolley trying to get to the toilet. some demented patients have no idea where they are and attempt to climb out. we tell them that they're in a hospital and they calm down a bit, but we know very well that in an hour's time, they'll be trying their very best to escape again.

"idol gives back" featured one of my favourite songs, from the musical Rent! here it is.

Seasons of Love

Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes,
Five hundred twenty five thousand moments so dear.
Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee.
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.
In Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure a year in the life?
How about love? How about love? How about love? Measure in love.
Seasons of love.

Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes!
Five hundred twenty five thousand journeys to plan.
Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How can you measure the life of a woman or man?
In truths that she learned, or in times that he cried.
In bridges he burned, or the way that she died.

It's time now to sing out,
though the story never ends let's celebrate remember a year in the life of friends.
Remember the love! Remember the love! Remember the love!
Measure in love. Seasons of love! Seasons of love.