I’m suprised I didn’t do this piece before now. I was reminded of this horrible scene when I had to cardiovert a father as his family watched. I didn’t realize how traumatic it is for a family to see the electricity jolt through their husband and dad. I could see the change in their faces after what they witnessed. To make it worse it happened under a Christmas tree ... again ...
Often our true patients are the families of the deceased. Thank God for victim services, but often they aren’t there in time and it’s us who have to inform the families that their loved one is dead. Their reaction is a horrible thing to witness, knowing their Christmas and every future Christmas will never be the same.
