Last Words

[Warning: This post discusses trauma and death.]

Hi Matt, I’m Gary. I’m your emergency doctor. I will take care of you.

I don’t know if you can hear me. 

You’ve been brought to the emergency room by paramedics. You were in a big car crash about half an hour ago.

Your car hit a telephone pole and caught on fire. Your girlfriend was brought to another ED. Her injuries are not severe, and she is probably going to be fine.

You were knocked out in the crash, and got very badly burned. 

The firefighters pulled you out of the car, and the ambulance brought you to City Hospital. You’re in the emergency department right now. 

The nurses are trying to call your parents. 

Your throat was burned by the flames, and in one minute I will give you a medicine that will put you to sleep. The medicine will get rid of all the pain too. 

You will be on a breathing machine in the intensive care unit. The machine will breathe for you while you are asleep. 

I want you to understand that your burns are very serious, and could be life-threatening, but that we will take care of you.