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

Every time you congregate with someone from outside of your home, you are potentially responsible for deaths

Nina Shapiro, MD
Conditions
April 23, 2020
5K Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

My husband and I have always relished being in the thick of it, “in the trenches,” we would say, at our hospital. He is a head and neck cancer surgeon, and I am a pediatric otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist for children). Working at an academic tertiary/quaternary care center in a major city, with over five decades of experience combined under our belts, we feel as though we’ve nearly seen it all. We have always cared for the sickest of the sick, the most complex problems, as patients have often come to us when there was nowhere left to go. We were, for all intents and purposes, the last resort, the end of the line.

Now we are seeing our colleagues — anesthesiologists, intensive care specialists, emergency room physicians, nurses, medical assistants, and respiratory therapists — as our front line heroes. They are the first responders as well as the last resort, the end of the line. We have supported the hospital by canceling our elective visits and surgeries in order to minimize the use of supplies and personnel, as well as to minimize added person-to-person exposure by bringing people into the buildings. For now, that is our job: to keep our patients at home. While much of what we have to offer our patients in need is sub-optimal care, we are indeed living in sub-optimal times. Some cancer and airway surgeries absolutely cannot wait, but most of them will. This painstaking, carefully thought-out rationing of care will soon be moot. We will soon be called to help in another way, to step out of our comfort zones both from a medical standpoint as well as a safety standpoint. As patients flood our hospitals, supplies are running low, and health care workers are falling ill. It will likely be “all hands on deck” in the not too distant future. We will no longer be sub-specialty surgeons caring for complex surgical patients. We will be part of the care force caring for COVID-19 patients: the first responders and the last resort. Until that day, we need to stay healthy.

For me, that means I need to keep running.

As I took my solitary morning run through the streets of a tony Los Angeles neighborhood this morning, a quote by former dictator Joseph Stalin came to mind: “A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic.” In pre-COVID-19 times, my morning runs have been sources of peace for me. A time to myself to exercise, breathe some fresh air, to think, to meditate, to take in the sights. As a surgeon who operates on airways of tiny humans, these times of tranquility are as important to me as breathing. Many friends and acquaintances who I haven’t seen in ages, have said to me, “I often see you running.” Yes, you do. Probably less so during winter months when I run before sunrise, but nonetheless, I am out there.

Today’s run was anything but peaceful. Yes, it was a beautiful morning. The sun was shining, and the low-grade heaviness of smog-filled Los Angeles air has lifted a bit. The friendliness of passersby is now measured by one of us stepping into the street or crossing to the other side, in order to maintain the now ingrained six feet of physical distance. We strangers smile and wave, as one of us yields to the other. It’s a bizarre connection, giving each other safe physical distance. But as I turned on to a busier thoroughfare, I noticed large groups of cyclists, walkers going to pick up coffee, and runners in packs. None with masks. These were not families, but friends congregating. My peace was pierced by anger and frustration. Here are “health-conscious” folks, getting fresh air and exercising, but all I saw were killers. Yes, killers. Last evening, three families congregated as their children rode bikes. I didn’t see a happy, healthy group enjoying a beautiful Friday evening in early Spring. I saw murderers.

You see, while many are finding creative ways to engage children, bake the best banana bread (“Oh no! I’m out of walnuts!”), or settle for a less bougie brand of olives, those of us in health care are worried about catching the virus at work, spreading it to co-workers or to sick patients, or bringing it into our homes. Those of us with two-physician families have reviewed our wills, and drafted contingency plans for our children if one or both of us gets sick, hospitalized, debilitated, or worse.

I’ve racked my brains on how to channel the anger when I see that health-minded people just don’t fathom the harm they are causing. It reminded me of some of the rationale I’ve heard from anti-vaxxers: “My children are healthy.” “Measles really isn’t a big deal if you have a good immune system.” “I’m taking immune boosters, so I won’t get sick.” When it comes to vaccine-preventable diseases, or any infectious disease, there is no personal connection while reading graphs and medical data. Personal experience makes diseases real. When it comes to COVID-19, many people are starting to feel removed and are getting data-fatigue from reading what seems to be the same charts day in and day out, while they are feeling just fine, but are frustrated being stuck inside. These charts are not personal, so the math makes no sense.

Here is some math, albeit crude, that may help make this more real and more personal: Every time you congregate with someone from outside of your home, you add one day to this quarantine. On second thought, that may not be effective. How’s this: Every time you congregate with someone from outside of your home, you are potentially responsible for one death. Every time.

Friends, family, and neighbors have asked us in health care how they can help. We have had such generous donations of masks, offers to spread the word, and offers to help if we get sick. These are acts of love that we will never forget. But it’s not enough. And maybe it’s not enough to ask; maybe we need to beg: Please stay at home. Stay at home like your life depends on it, stay at home because our lives depend on it.

Nina Shapiro is a pediatric otolaryngologist and a professor, department of head and neck surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA.  She is the author of Hype: A Doctor’s Guide to Medical Myths, Exaggerated Claims, and Bad Advice – How to Tell What’s Real and What’s Not and can be reached on her self-titled site, Dr. Nina Shapiro, and can be reached on Twitter @drninashapiro. 

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

We need to stop making this public health emergency political

April 23, 2020 Kevin 6
…
Next

Why I feel grateful to be a physician today

April 23, 2020 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: COVID, Infectious Disease

Post navigation

< Previous Post
We need to stop making this public health emergency political
Next Post >
Why I feel grateful to be a physician today

More by Nina Shapiro, MD

  • How do we treat the unvaccinated?  And how can they treat us?

    Nina Shapiro, MD
  • COVID vaccine battles are as strange as the disease

    Nina Shapiro, MD
  • The inspiring concern and connection between health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

    Nina Shapiro, MD

Related Posts

  • It is time for the Supreme Court to help stem gun deaths

    David Galinsky, MD
  • Doctors: It’s time to unionize

    Thomas D. Guastavino, MD
  • Finding happiness in the time of COVID

    Anonymous
  • A medical student’s reflection on time, the scarcest resource

    Natasha Abadilla
  • It’s time to ban productivity from medicine

    Robert Centor, MD
  • It is time to make the unvaccinated pay their fair share

    Hayward Zwerling, MD

More in Conditions

  • Overcoming Parkinson’s: a journey of laughter and resilience

    Cynthia Poire Mathews, FNP
  • The untold struggles patients face with resident doctors

    Denise Reich
  • Maximize sleep efficiency with stimulus control

    Pedram Navab, DO
  • The endless waves of chronic illness

    Michele Luckenbaugh
  • Surviving and thriving after life’s most difficult moments

    Rebecca Fogg, MBA
  • The surprising power of Play-Doh in pediatric care: How it’s bringing families together

    Alexander Rakowsky, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

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

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • It’s time for C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD | Physician
    • What is driving physicians to the edge of despair?

      Edward T. Creagan, MD | Physician
    • The untold struggles patients face with resident doctors

      Denise Reich | Conditions
    • The psychoanalytic hammer: lessons in listening and patient-centered care

      Greg Smith, MD | Conditions
    • The hidden truths of hospital life: What doctors wish you knew

      Emily Stanford, DO | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

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

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • It’s time for C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD | Physician
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • The hidden truths of hospital life: What doctors wish you knew

      Emily Stanford, DO | Physician
    • 10 commandments of ethical affiliate marketing for physicians

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Amy Bissada, DO | Finance
    • The heart of a Desi doctor: Balancing emotions and resources in oncology

      Dr. Damane Zehra | Physician
    • Safe sex for seniors: Dispelling myths and embracing safe practices [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Overcoming Parkinson’s: a journey of laughter and resilience

      Cynthia Poire Mathews, FNP | Conditions
    • The untold struggles patients face with resident doctors

      Denise Reich | Conditions

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 8 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

  • 'No Safe Place': Shooting Hits Home for Nashville Doctors
  • FDA OKs First OTC Product for Reversing Opioid Overdoses
  • Asthma, Eczema Tied to Osteoarthritis Risk
  • Four-Year-Old Gets Hospital Bill; Woolly Mammoth Meatball; How AR-15s Damage Humans
  • How This Doctor Found Purpose After a Devastating Injury

Meeting Coverage

  • Phase III Trials 'Hit a Home Run' in Advanced Endometrial Cancer
  • Cannabis Use Common in Post-Surgery Patients on Opioid Tapering
  • Less Abuse With Extended-Release Oxycodone, Poison Center Data Suggest
  • Novel Strategies Show Winning Potential in Ovarian Cancer
  • Children Do Well With Fewer Opiates After Surgery
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

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

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • It’s time for C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD | Physician
    • What is driving physicians to the edge of despair?

      Edward T. Creagan, MD | Physician
    • The untold struggles patients face with resident doctors

      Denise Reich | Conditions
    • The psychoanalytic hammer: lessons in listening and patient-centered care

      Greg Smith, MD | Conditions
    • The hidden truths of hospital life: What doctors wish you knew

      Emily Stanford, DO | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

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

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • It’s time for C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD | Physician
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • The hidden truths of hospital life: What doctors wish you knew

      Emily Stanford, DO | Physician
    • 10 commandments of ethical affiliate marketing for physicians

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Amy Bissada, DO | Finance
    • The heart of a Desi doctor: Balancing emotions and resources in oncology

      Dr. Damane Zehra | Physician
    • Safe sex for seniors: Dispelling myths and embracing safe practices [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Overcoming Parkinson’s: a journey of laughter and resilience

      Cynthia Poire Mathews, FNP | Conditions
    • The untold struggles patients face with resident doctors

      Denise Reich | Conditions

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

Every time you congregate with someone from outside of your home, you are potentially responsible for deaths
8 comments

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

Loading Comments...