During a critical moment in my career, I faced a life-or-death situation with a young patient whose vital signs were alarming: a heart rate of 155 beats per minute and a respiratory rate of 32 breaths per minute. We immediately recognized that one of the most effective treatments would be Rocephin, a brand of Ceftriaxone, known for its efficacy in such cases. However, the hospital pharmacy did not have it in stock, so I instructed them to purchase it from an external source. When they checked the price, they discovered it was unaffordable.
The mother of the patient, overwhelmed by distress, cried out in desperation. Rocephin, particularly the Apex brand, is one of the most expensive antibiotics in Nigeria. Unable to bear the thought of her daughter’s death due to financial constraints, I made a decision that would weigh heavily on me. I reached into my pocket and provided the money for the antibiotic—121,000 Naira in total. I had to borrow part of it, hoping I would recover the sum once the patient had recovered.
Day by day, after administering multiple vials of Rocephin, the patient gradually emerged from her coma, and her condition improved. The joy and relief of seeing her symptoms resolve were indescribable. I felt a deep sense of fulfillment, knowing I had done everything within my power to save her life.
However, the very next morning, I was met with a shock that would forever change my outlook on my work. Itunu, the patient, had disappeared from the hospital with her mother, leaving behind a trail of unpaid hospital bills and leaving me to carry the burden of the money I had borrowed for the medication.
In that moment, I had to make a difficult decision about how I would proceed in my future practice. From that day on, I vowed never to leave the doctor’s lodge until nurses confirmed that patients had made a deposit for their care. I also promised myself never again to dip into my own funds for patient expenses. Despite the criticism I received from colleagues, who labeled me as cold-hearted and cruel, they could not understand the depth of the experience that had led me to this decision.
What I learned from this was a bitter but important lesson: while compassion is essential in the practice of medicine, it must be tempered with caution, as not every gesture of kindness is reciprocated.
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