Had a rough mission this evening. As some people know, I am currently working overseas in an environment with very different beliefs and behaviors. Typically, I try to "go with the flow;" however, I can still question the validity of people's beliefs and actions. This is especially true when it puts another person's life at risk.
We were involved in the Evacuation of a pediatric patient. A very young patient sustained severe cranio/facial trauma and orthopedic trauma. The military arranged for the Evacuation and we agreed to assist with transport to the receiving facility on our end.
However, upon arrival at the receiving facility, we were met with a situation that I have never encountered. Only the patient's father escorted the patient. The family is poor and the mother was unable to come with the patient. Unfortunately, the receiving physician and staff refused to accept the patient. The facility while basic by western standards, has some of the neuro/ortho specialties required, so level of care was not the issue.
The issue was due to the fact that only the father accompanied the patient. Only women are allowed on the wards. It is forbidden to have a male around all of the other women. Obviously, the patient is in rough shape and the father is distraught with grief. Attempting to explain the fact that the father was only concerned about his child and absolutely not concerned about the women on the ward was met by deaf ears. It is hard to explain the feelings of anger that one experiences when put into these situations. Refusing to care for a critical patient because we need to keep men and women separated is a concept that I simply cannot understand. Not allowing for special situations or circumstances in order to follow some prescribed belief/behavior seems such a rigid way to look at this world.
After calling the administrator, the staff finally agreed to admit the patient for one day only. However, the patient will have to stay in the ER and somehow the father will have to find a woman to care for the patient. A poor man several hundred miles from his family is somehow going to pull a suitable woman out of his butt in 24 hours hu?
Absolutely nothing I can do or say to help. Really goes against what we in the west think and believe.
Somehow that annoying paperwork I have to do here doesnt seem so bad. Geez, working in M/S isnt really all that bad either. At least people arent turned away like that here.
eriksoln, BSN, RN
2,636 Posts
Perspective. Thats what this story gives me.
Somehow that annoying paperwork I have to do here doesnt seem so bad. Geez, working in M/S isnt really all that bad either. At least people arent turned away like that here.
Thanks Gila.