My Job

I have broken a 92 year old woman's ribs. It's very commen to break a patients ribs while performing basic life support. Unfortunatly old women's bones tend to break more easily. I'll never forget the cracking sound I not only heard but felt as I pumped on her fragile chest attempting to revive her heart. Needless to say our efforts were fruitless, she passed away, like many old, sick patients do. The difference is she ended her life with a me on top of her breaking her bones, tubes shoved down her throat, shock pads stuck to her chest, and a mob of nurses and doctors shouting and pushing drugs into her dry veins. It sounds horrifying, and it is, but it's one of the standards of my job. I am paid to save lives. It's not always a good feeling to revive a human life when I know that the quality of that life is poor, but there is a set of rules, laws and regulations that requires me to attempt all means possible to save a life. Unless of course that person has made their end of life wishes known to their family, lawyer, and doctors. That's where code status comes in to play. DNR-do not resusitate, or Full Code-perform everything that can be done. Sounds clear cut, but unfortunatly, like all laws their are loophools. I guess that's what my research will be based on, all the unclear, grey area, ethical issues I deal with at work.