Yes, we may laugh at that vintage Life Alert commercial but sometimes it is for real. A woman pushed her button just like in that classic (although the dude going “I’m having ack!!! Chest pain!!!” is pretty funny in a morbid way too!) after she fell. Unfortunately, the CT above is what was going on […]

I have posted on this before but it bears repeating. I love the snow - and it is not because I am a skier. I also don’t mean I love it when I am driving (although it is more because of all the traffic and others who flail about without snow tires […]

I don’t know but I guess I can understand. Some people define themselves by their career. When they retire, they essentially lose their identity and get really depressed. Still, I think it gets to the point where you need to turn your stethoscope and enjoy other aspects of life. I know for sure […]

WhiteCoat here again. More medical news from around the internet brought to you courtesy of ER Stories. See more at my blog if you’re interested.
Should doctors who provide emergency medical care and on-call specialists to everyone receive special protections from liability?
Georgia has such a law right now - requiring […]

The next day you are found aspirating on your own vomit with decorticate posturing and right gaze preference. Shortly afterwards EMS intubates you and your are on a vent in the ER. Your blood work is horrible (renal failure and white blood count over 20K). You might think you are lucky that […]

ERP (walking into the ER at 9am, about to take a sip of coffee): “Good Morning, How was your weekend?”
Nurse: “Fine, get into room 19″
ERP: “What?”
Nurse: “Get into room 19, you need to tube this guy, I think they just started compressions”
ERP (heading over to room 19):”Great, what a way to start”
Two minutes […]

Patient (woman who has been in my ER dozens of times always for chronic tooth pain and nonexistent mandibular dislocations - ie acts like it is out and refuses to move jaw even though it appears clinically in place and x-rays always show normal anatomical location): “Finally! I have been waiting an hour!” […]