Addressing end-of-life care in the emergency department
“I need a doctor in here!”
As I walk into the resuscitation room in the emergency department (ED), I see Mr. G, a cachectic elderly gentleman barely holding onto his breath. After a rapid assessment, it is clear that he is tiring and cannot maintain breathing on his own for much longer. “We need to secure his airway” — with my command, the resident applies an oxygen mask, cracks open the …