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

A letter to politicians: Doctors without PPE is deplorable and must be fixed

Romita Almonte, MD, MPH
Conditions
March 20, 2020
Share
Tweet
Share

I am a pediatrician. Daily I see kids with fevers and coughs who test negative for influenza. Some have pneumonia. I am not able to test them for SARS-CoV2, so I encourage them to self-quarantine. If I find nothing else, I tell them they have a viral illness. They ask me if it’s “the coronavirus,” and I tell them that, contrary to what they are hearing from our government officials on TV, I cannot test them for this virus, because they don’t meet certain criteria despite their symptoms.

Until three days ago, I did not have an N95 mask for precautions. I appreciate that there is mixed information as to whether a regular surgical mask is sufficient, or whether more stringent “airborne” protocols are needed; however, images from China and Italy support the need for airborne pathogen precautions. I still do not have eye gear or other personal protective equipment (PPE) nor do my colleagues.
And I am not even on the frontlines, in the EDs and urgent cares, caring for the elderly or those with cardiovascular comorbidities. Those of my physician colleagues are mostly in the same boat, no PPE, but still continuing to do the jobs we are passionately compelled to do, because of our oath, because of who we are.

I am 35 years old. I am a pediatrician, mother, and wife. My children are 6, 3, and 1. I am making sure my will is in order because of the 1/1000 chance I may die from this. I know I’m going to catch it, as are my colleagues.

How do you sit silently, watching government officials speak of the economy while physicians are taking care of patients who almost certainly have SARS-CoV2 without even a basic mask? I ask you to require those hoarding masks to bring them to hospitals for healthcare workers to use. I encourage you to use factory facilities to increase the production of masks or crowdsource innovative ways to create new masks. I am really just asking you to place some value on the health of those providing healthcare, so we can continue to safely carry out our duties as physicians.

Perhaps you should consider accompanying me or one of my colleagues with inadequate PPE as we see our patients. Would you?
Would you allow firefighters to enter burning buildings without their suits? Divers to enter the water without their oxygen tank? No? Why not? Because you know what is inevitable.

This is the same. It may not appear so. But it is. And if you can live with that, perhaps government office is not the right place for you.

Romita Almonte is a pediatrician.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com 

Prev

Corona together: Say "I love you" a little bit more to those you love

March 20, 2020 Kevin 0
…
Next

A physician leaves concierge medicine after 13 years

March 20, 2020 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: COVID, Infectious Disease, Pediatrics

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Corona together: Say "I love you" a little bit more to those you love
Next Post >
A physician leaves concierge medicine after 13 years

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

  • A love letter to patients

    Marcie Costello
  • Why do doctors who hate being doctors still practice?

    Kristin Puhl, MD
  • Doctors: It’s time to unionize

    Thomas D. Guastavino, MD
  • An open letter to graduating medical students

    Lilian White
  • A medical student’s letter to her parents

    Hillary McKinley
  • A letter to my first patient

    Lindsay Fleischer

More in Conditions

  • Psychiatrist tests ketogenic diet for mental health benefits

    Zane Kaleem, MD
  • The myth of biohacking your way past death

    Larry Kaskel, MD
  • Why Hollywood’s allergy jokes are dangerous

    Lianne Mandelbaum, PT
  • Coconut oil’s role in Alzheimer’s and depression

    Marc Arginteanu, MD
  • Ancient health secrets for modern life

    Larry Kaskel, MD
  • How the internet broke the doctor-parent trust

    Wendy L. Hunter, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The human case for preserving the nipple after mastectomy

      Thomas Amburn, MD | Conditions
    • Nuclear verdicts and rising costs: How inflation is reshaping medical malpractice claims

      Robert E. White, Jr. & The Doctors Company | Policy
    • IMGs are the future of U.S. primary care

      Adam Brandon Bondoc, MD | Physician
    • Why I left the clinic to lead health care from the inside

      Vandana Maurya, MHA | Conditions
    • How doctors can think like CEOs [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • A surgeon’s testimony, probation, and resignation from a professional society

      Stephen M. Cohen, MD, MBA | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • Health equity in Inland Southern California requires urgent action

      Vishruth Nagam | Policy
    • How restrictive opioid policies worsen the crisis

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • Why primary care needs better dermatology training

      Alex Siauw | Conditions
    • Why pain doctors face unfair scrutiny and harsh penalties in California

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • How a doctor defied a hurricane to save a life

      Dharam Persaud-Sharma, MD, PhD | Physician
    • What street medicine taught me about healing

      Alina Kang | Education
  • Recent Posts

    • Affordable postpartum hemorrhage solutions every OB/GYN can use worldwide [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • When cancer costs too much: Why financial toxicity deserves a place in clinical conversations

      Yousuf Zafar, MD | Physician
    • Psychiatrist tests ketogenic diet for mental health benefits

      Zane Kaleem, MD | Conditions
    • The hidden rewards of a primary care career

      Jerina Gani, MD, MPH | Physician
    • Why physicians should not be their own financial planner

      Michelle Neiswender, CFP | Finance
    • Why doctors regret specialty choices in their 30s

      Jeremiah J. Whittington, MD | Physician

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

Leave a Comment

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

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The human case for preserving the nipple after mastectomy

      Thomas Amburn, MD | Conditions
    • Nuclear verdicts and rising costs: How inflation is reshaping medical malpractice claims

      Robert E. White, Jr. & The Doctors Company | Policy
    • IMGs are the future of U.S. primary care

      Adam Brandon Bondoc, MD | Physician
    • Why I left the clinic to lead health care from the inside

      Vandana Maurya, MHA | Conditions
    • How doctors can think like CEOs [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • A surgeon’s testimony, probation, and resignation from a professional society

      Stephen M. Cohen, MD, MBA | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • Health equity in Inland Southern California requires urgent action

      Vishruth Nagam | Policy
    • How restrictive opioid policies worsen the crisis

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • Why primary care needs better dermatology training

      Alex Siauw | Conditions
    • Why pain doctors face unfair scrutiny and harsh penalties in California

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • How a doctor defied a hurricane to save a life

      Dharam Persaud-Sharma, MD, PhD | Physician
    • What street medicine taught me about healing

      Alina Kang | Education
  • Recent Posts

    • Affordable postpartum hemorrhage solutions every OB/GYN can use worldwide [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • When cancer costs too much: Why financial toxicity deserves a place in clinical conversations

      Yousuf Zafar, MD | Physician
    • Psychiatrist tests ketogenic diet for mental health benefits

      Zane Kaleem, MD | Conditions
    • The hidden rewards of a primary care career

      Jerina Gani, MD, MPH | Physician
    • Why physicians should not be their own financial planner

      Michelle Neiswender, CFP | Finance
    • Why doctors regret specialty choices in their 30s

      Jeremiah J. Whittington, MD | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

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

Leave a Comment

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

Loading Comments...