A prepotent doctor can put in risk the life of patients. When I was doing my medical practice in a town in Antioquia, a female baby was born with breathing problems. Baby couldn’t breathe and she was diagnosed with newborn breathing insufficiency. When I arrived at the Hospital the pediatrician doctor as anesthesiologist doctor were trying to help the baby. They were trying to introduce a little orotracheal tube in the baby to improve her breathing, but with much difficulty because the size the tube and the respiratory way of the baby were very small. I remember they spent approximately one hour in this procedure when normally this takes only one minute. When they achieved to put the tube the baby could breathe better. Baby should be transported until General Hospital in Medellín and I would care the baby during the travel. I saw they were exhausted for the procedure. When they gave me the baby pediatrician said to me:
- You must be careful! You have to avoid that tube moves out from baby’s respiratory way. It’s vital for save her. If the tube moves out you’ll have problems to assure the baby’s breathing.
I felt terror in that moment. I saw the tube was easy to move from its place and I imagined how would be the travel towards Medellín while I avoided that tube moved out from its place. A nurse, an ambulance driver, the baby and I began the travel. I always tried to maintain the tube in its place with my hand while I measured the oxygen in the blood of the baby.
Ambulance ran very fast. Vehicle took the curves with great violence for the speed. Inside of the ambulance I tried to maintain the tube in its place but it was very difficult. Each time that ambulance took a curve the tube moved out a little and the oxygen in the blood of the baby decreased, then, I put the tube in its correct place again. Finally, so curve gives us nauseas. Suddenly, my nurse took a bag and she vomited inside. My nauseas were big but I tried to avoid them because the baby’s life depended to me. However, my stomach didn’t resist and with help of my nurse I vomited inside of a bag too while I avoided to lose contact with the tube. Fortunately, the tube never moved out. It was a long travel, but the baby was always good. Finally, we arrived at the General Hospital. I remember I had pain in my right hand, I had been maintaining the tube in its place all time. Another pediatrician doctor, a woman, receive us. Our mission had been successful! When she looked the baby she said:
- - This tube is unnecessary! This tube affects to the baby’s breathing!
I tried said the great need of that tube for the baby and the great difficulty to put the tube, but she didn’t hear me. Then, she retired the tube while my nurse and me saw her incredulous. Immediately, the baby’s blood oxygen decreased. I saw how my sacrifice finished sadly for the prepotency of an irresponsible doctor. Pediatrician tried to put other tube in its place but it was impossible. Doctor called urgently an anesthesiologist. Fortunately, the baby was saved for an expert anesthesiologist. After, we returned at the town thinking the ego is the most dangerous thing for a doctor and his patient.
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