Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Pretending the world is homogeneous is a dangerous path

James Nichols, MD
Physician
November 21, 2016
165 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

I was at work a few nights ago. We had had a patient death early in the morning before I got there, and the body was still in the room awaiting the JP’s arrival. The family was en route back with the children (he was only 57) and the body was not presentable. Blood, saliva, a gaping mouth and lividity with rigor were a bad combination for the kids to see. I and a tech got him cleaned, covered, and propped the head into a bit of flexion to relatively close the mouth (a trick he’d learned in EMS days). The family returned soon and the cries and calls for “Daddy” were heartbreaking.

Later that night the riots and protests were in the news, and I was thinking how sad it is we’ve come to this point of division over politics and not unity as Americans. I wrote the following on my Facebook page:

I’m at work tonight, and I’ve seen … people. Not liberals, conservatives, Democrats or Republicans, but simply people. Black people, Mexican people, Pakistani people, young people, old people, sad people and angry people. It’s pretty damned amazing what a handshake and legitimate concern for their condition mean to folks. We are people, nothing more.

And we will all die, trust me. You should watch someone do it sometime. Or better yet, pronounce someone dead and then look the family in the eye and tell them their loved one won’t be going home tonight. Stand in the room and listen to the wails pierce your eardrums and heart. Let a devastated mother pound your chest and say, “No!”, a few hundred times. Do all that enough, and you’ll be punched by every color, creed, sex, and religion imaginable and you’ll realize that it all feels the same no matter the source.

For about ten years, I was terrified of this situation, but slowly I found that in that moment, there is a wonderful colorblindness and singular minded purpose that affirms the common denominator of love and the sanctity of life that we so wantonly toss about on a daily basis.

So why are we wasting our precious time above ground trying to drive each other into it? Do you really want to be a label? Are you that desperate for meaning that you cling to some nebulous “one size fits all” value set? Who in their right mind wants to be externally defined? Why do we teach our children free thinking and foster creativity if we cannot exemplify it? Are you better than your neighbor because of your color, god (or lack thereof), political party, sexual orientation, favorite color, how much you make … you see how petty it is by now?

If so, you’re the problem and pretending the world is or should be homogeneous is a very dangerous path that’s easy to find because it’s the one with all the morons in white hoods walking it with you. Aren’t you proud now? Jesus, just enough of the hate and gloating. One day you may be working beside the same guy you’re screaming at right now and won’t that be awkward? The sun came up 11/10, we kissed someone goodbye and went to work or school. It will come up tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I will be working with my colleagues that include black men, women, Latinos and even this old white guy who will take care of any and all like they are family because in the end, they, and we, are.

The dead father I mention above was Pakistani and Muslim; but really, just a fellow human who deserves the same respect any of us would want in that situation.

James Nichols is an emergency physician.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

Dr. Mommy: When will you put yourself first?

November 21, 2016 Kevin 1
…
Next

Here’s what we want you to know about being our doctor

November 21, 2016 Kevin 15
…

Tagged as: Emergency Medicine

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Dr. Mommy: When will you put yourself first?
Next Post >
Here’s what we want you to know about being our doctor

More by James Nichols, MD

  • A day in the beautiful life of this doctor

    James Nichols, MD
  • Physician, heal thyself. But is it even possible today?

    James Nichols, MD

Related Posts

  • A physician’s addiction to social media

    Amanda Xi, MD
  • Kratom: harmless herbal supplement or dangerous drug?

    Dennis Wichern
  • The dangerous precedent of Alfie Evans

    Vamsi Aribindi, MD
  • Facebook has become a dangerous platform for misinformation. Or has it?

    Mark Tosca, DO
  • Veering away from the predetermined path of training in medicine

    Amelia L. Bueche, DO
  • The path to gender-affirming care is closing: We need to open it

    Anonymous

More in Physician

  • From solidarity to co-liberation: Understanding the journey towards ending oppression

    Maiysha Clairborne, MD
  • Finding peace through surrender: a personal exploration

    Dympna Weil, MD
  • The struggle to fill emergency medicine residency spots: Exploring the factors behind the unfilled match

    Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH
  • Beyond the disease: the power of empathy in health care

    Nana Dadzie Ghansah, MD
  • How to overcome telemedicine’s biggest obstacles

    Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
  • The patient who became my soulmate

    Anonymous
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • Healing the damaged nurse-physician dynamic

      Angel J. Mena, MD and Ali Morin, MSN, RN | Policy
    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • From physician to patient: one doctor’s journey to finding purpose after a devastating injury

      Stephanie Pearson, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the stigma: Addressing the struggles of physicians

      Jean Antonucci, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of misery in medicine: a practical guide

      Paul R. Ehrmann, DO | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • The hidden dangers of the Nebraska Heartbeat Act

      Meghan Sheehan, MD | Policy
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • Why are doctors sued and politicians aren’t?

      Kellie Lease Stecher, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Unlock the power of physician compensation data in contract negotiations [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • From pennies to attending salaries: Why physicians should teach their kids financial literacy

      Michele Cho-Dorado, MD | Finance
    • From solidarity to co-liberation: Understanding the journey towards ending oppression

      Maiysha Clairborne, MD | Physician
    • Changing the pediatric care landscape: Integrating behavioral and mental health care

      Hilary M. Bowers, MD | Conditions
    • Contract Diagnostics is the only firm 100 percent dedicated to physician contract reviews

      Contract Diagnostics | Sponsored
    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 2 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Pregnant, Black? Here's Your Drug Test
  • Progestin-Only Birth Control Linked to Small Increase in Breast Cancer Risk
  • Fatty Acid Tube Feeding May Backfire for Preemie Breathing Disorder
  • Case Reports Detail Vision Loss Linked to Recalled Artificial Tears
  • Admin Trumps Med Students: Anti-Abortion Group Allowed on Campus

Meeting Coverage

  • Outlook for Itchy Prurigo Nodularis Continues to Improve With IL-31 Antagonist
  • AAAAI President Shares Highlights From the 2023 Meeting
  • Second-Line Sacituzumab Govitecan Promising in Platinum-Ineligible UC
  • Trial of Novel TYK2 Inhibitor Hits Its Endpoint in Plaque Psoriasis
  • Durable Vitiligo Responses With Topical Ruxolitinib
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • Healing the damaged nurse-physician dynamic

      Angel J. Mena, MD and Ali Morin, MSN, RN | Policy
    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • From physician to patient: one doctor’s journey to finding purpose after a devastating injury

      Stephanie Pearson, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the stigma: Addressing the struggles of physicians

      Jean Antonucci, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of misery in medicine: a practical guide

      Paul R. Ehrmann, DO | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • The hidden dangers of the Nebraska Heartbeat Act

      Meghan Sheehan, MD | Policy
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • Why are doctors sued and politicians aren’t?

      Kellie Lease Stecher, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Unlock the power of physician compensation data in contract negotiations [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • From pennies to attending salaries: Why physicians should teach their kids financial literacy

      Michele Cho-Dorado, MD | Finance
    • From solidarity to co-liberation: Understanding the journey towards ending oppression

      Maiysha Clairborne, MD | Physician
    • Changing the pediatric care landscape: Integrating behavioral and mental health care

      Hilary M. Bowers, MD | Conditions
    • Contract Diagnostics is the only firm 100 percent dedicated to physician contract reviews

      Contract Diagnostics | Sponsored
    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today iMedicalApps
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Pretending the world is homogeneous is a dangerous path
2 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...