Tema, Aug. 1 – Dr. Barbara Ayesha Anawana Karbo, Head of the Accident and Emergency Department at the International Maritime Hospital, reveals that writing a death certificate for a patient who has just passed away is one of the toughest tasks for medical practitioners. The emotional toll of losing a patient can affect doctors and nurses, leading to doubts about their diagnosis and capabilities.
Medical officers and nurses often form a bond with their patients, making the loss even more painful. While attending to the next patient, doctors must fight the fear of repeating the same diagnosis that may have led to the previous death, as it can cause further fatalities.
Dr. Karbo spoke about the initial fear that young medical practitioners face when witnessing death, sometimes leading to taking days off to cope with the trauma. She emphasized that medical professionals do experience emotional challenges when they lose a patient but adopt coping mechanisms, which might be perceived as numbness by the public.
The Accident and Emergency Specialist appealed to the public not to dehumanize doctors and nurses, recognizing that they have emotions and are affected by the loss of patients, particularly young ones. Dr. Karbo emphasized the need for emotional support from the public, as doctors are not superhuman and rely on assistance to provide the best care.
The Ghana News Agency’s “Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility” initiative aims to promote health-related communication and increase health literacy, highlighting the emotional toll doctors experience in handling the loss of patients.
