A memorable patient: Useless again

doi:10.1136/bmj.324.7351.1425

BMJ 2002;324:1425 ( 15 June )

Filler

A memorable patient

Useless again

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The next patient on the post-take ward round was a "straightforward" overdose. The senior house officer reported that the21 year old girl was now well but had been having to look afterher 91 year old grandmother. The ward sister confirmed that thegirl was the "principalcarer."

She looked, despite her age, like a child. She was obese, had pale, child-like skin with a flushed red face, and she was clutchinga soft toy. Yes, she wanted to die. Then, quite spontaneously,she volunteered that her dad had died young of mesothelioma andthat I had looked after him. Her manner implied unspoken gratitudefor care given to a loving parent. She told me that she now livedaway from home because she and her mum had blazing rows. Her generalpractitioner had wanted to help and had sent her to a psychiatrist.Unfortunately, the senior house officer who saw . . . [Full text of this article]