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A Physician in an

Overseas Hospital

Case Study: Part II

The staff physician decided to proceed with resuscitation and emergency pulmonary embolectomy. The patient was successfully resuscitated and stabilized.

When the patient had recovered sufficiently, he expressed his appreciation of the good intentions and skill of his young colleague.

At the same time, he asked that if he had a further cardiovascular collapse no steps should be taken to prolong his life, for the pain of the cancer was now more than he could endure and it would be needless to continue.

He himself wrote a note this effect in his case records, and the staff of the hospital were made aware of his feelings.

Two weeks after the embolectomy, the patient collapsed again — this time with acute myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest.

Questions II