IDGAF

If you see it from their side, you feel sorry for them. The residents I bully around the minute I step foot in Columbia, but then again if you know anything about my story you think differently. Jason was scheduled to have a lumbar puncture by the same trembling residents who did not know what to do when we first walked in. With all their medical training they decided to meet his attack of agitation with a call to security instead of getting him meds.

I declined.

I was asked why, and articulately explained and the response back was more of a "well the Dr wanted it and it's scheduled."

Patients with limited English, those not as well versed as myself in doctor bullshit, would have conceded. They Would have thought, "Oh no! I can't say no because the Dr is telling me the other doctor wants it." For a second i thought of how many countless people have had this exchange and conceded because the tone they gave made you feel like you did not have choice.

But then I came back down to reality.  Jason doesn't have that problem. A lumbar puncture was not necessary. Nice to have but not a factor for treatment. It's a clinical snapshot of where he is with the disease that acts for a marker for future patients not necessarily helping him right now. While I would love to help my fellow man because this disease has got to go, this day was not the day to put Jason through more trauma. Jason is my concern at the moment, all others are secondary. This medical team was not equipped enough to handle his arrival, I'm going to allow them to stab him in the back?

I actually became amused at the blatant level of pushback I was given. In 24 hrs since I been there the Dr's grew a set.

I smiled before opening my mouth again, genuinely amused by the audacity.

"Let me preface my statement with some colorful language: I don't give a fuck what the doctor wants. Last I checked I did not give over custody of my child by consenting to treatment here. You are not putting him under general anesthesia for a lumbar puncture."

"Well, we will just have to confirm that this is ok with Dr Hoenig." The Resident came back again. Not skipping a beat in our exchange. She clutched her book and tried to give me a concerned look that was masking a scowl.

I smiled again because I actually wanted to laugh. I could hear my tongue unsheathing it's double edged self from its muscular soft coating. It was about to slice.

"You can make as many phone calls to Dr Hoenig as you'd like. You attempt to schedule a lumbar puncture on my son after I have just declined and you are gonna need security and NYPD ready because I will make sure the trauma team and the OR will be prepped and ready for YOU and every single one of your asses.

With a look to the floor and an about face  the entire team was gone.

You know Jason didn't get that lumbar puncture.