AITA? A thread for when you just need to know

[DocEspana]

So I just had a case where I know my partner, who just came in and took over from me, thinks I'm an @$$hole. And I'm sure we've all had that time where we thought we did everything right and then some other doc looks at us like "what? I would never have done that."

Reddit has its "Am I the @$$#ole" thread. Now we do. I'll submit mine. Feel free to ask for your own AITA questions.

My partner saw a guy for urinary retention 48ish hours ago (from when the patient returned). Tossed in a foley catheter and told him to make a follow up appointment with urology "in 1-2 weeks" for removal of the foley catheter. So far so good. He also wrote in his note that he would next be working 4/15/25 at 3PM and if the patient cant get urology follow up in 1-2 weeks, to just come in (just over 48 hours later) for removal.

Well guy shows up exactly 48 hours later, at 10:30am in my shift. Hes demanding catheter removal. He openly states he didn't try to get a urology appointment, he just heard that the other doctor would remove it today and decided thats how he wanted to proceed. I tell him its way too early and hes been on abx not even 48 hours yet and, frankly, I agree that 1-2 weeks IS the appropriate timeframe for removal. I dont feel comfortable with 48 hour removal. This isn't an area where urologists are hard to get in to see, we have tons of people and they are thrilled to have voiding trials. Guy is furious. Demands his chart is deleted and he not be billed. I told him that I actually would have tried to do that but he has a started noted from me and two notes from nursing already. He left in a pissed off mood at like 10:50am. I told my partner when he came in about it and he seemed SHOCKED I wouldnt remove it. I'm almost 100% certain i caught him writing down the patient's phone number, likely to call him to tell him to come in now for removal.

AITA?

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[JacobMcCandles]

Everyone practices differently so I can’t blame you there. With that said, I’d 100% take it out. Even if I think it needed to stay in longer I’d document why but still take it out after discussion with him if he really wanted it out.

 

[thegenius]

So I just had a case where I know my partner, who just came in and took over from me, thinks I'm an @$$hole. And I'm sure we've all had that time where we thought we did everything right and then some other doc looks at us like "what? I would never have done that."

Reddit has its "Am I the @$$#ole" thread. Now we do. I'll submit mine. Feel free to ask for your own AITA questions.

My partner saw a guy for urinary retention 48ish hours ago (from when the patient returned). Tossed in a foley catheter and told him to make a follow up appointment with urology "in 1-2 weeks" for removal of the foley catheter. So far so good. He also wrote in his note that he would next be working 4/15/25 at 3PM and if the patient cant get urology follow up in 1-2 weeks, to just come in (just over 48 hours later) for removal.

Well guy shows up exactly 48 hours later, at 10:30am in my shift. Hes demanding catheter removal. He openly states he didn't try to get a urology appointment, he just heard that the other doctor would remove it today and decided thats how he wanted to proceed. I tell him its way too early and hes been on abx not even 48 hours yet and, frankly, I agree that 1-2 weeks IS the appropriate timeframe for removal. I dont feel comfortable with 48 hour removal. This isn't an area where urologists are hard to get in to see, we have tons of people and they are thrilled to have voiding trials. Guy is furious. Demands his chart is deleted and he not be billed. I told him that I actually would have tried to do that but he has a started noted from me and two notes from nursing already. He left in a pissed off mood at like 10:50am. I told my partner when he came in about it and he seemed SHOCKED I wouldnt remove it. I'm almost 100% certain i caught him writing down the patient's phone number, likely to call him to tell him to come in now for removal.

AITA?

No.

 

[thegenius]

Everyone practices differently so I can’t blame you there. With that said, I’d 100% take it out. Even if I think it needed to stay in longer I’d document why but still take it out after discussion with him if he really wanted it out.

Yea this is reasonable. Because if you can't pee you'll come right back. I guess there is the risk of chronic worsening UR but just tell the patient you'll be straight cathing for the rest of your life if he gets to that point.

 

[DocEspana]

No.

NTA. Nice.

 

[xaelia]

Props to the co-worker who wants the guy to come back and get easy chart RVUs on his shift for the 2nd encounter.

Google will literally tell you how to take the catheter out yourself if getting billed for it is your concern.

High-risk-ish stuff – pulling out JP drains etc. for surgeons – not excited. Low-risk stuff like a foley, not worth a fight.

 

[Groove]

I’d have taken it out. I generally recommend 3-7 days which I “think” is in line with most AUA/EAU guidelines. Refusing to remove a Foley catheter seems dicey to me from medicolegal standpoint. I’d simply document the discussion and prescribe some disposable self catheters to pick up from pharmacy. I’ve actually never heard of someone refusing to take one out at a patients request so this is new to me but doesn’t sound egregious or anything. I get these not infrequently and will always take them out, document risk and recommend returning in 24hrs if they can’t pee and/or can’t get in to urology.

 

[Janders]

Yeah I would have counseled against, but removed with stern warnings myself.

My partners are also smart enough not to give such dc instructions.

 

[pkwraith]

A) I would not tell a patient to come back to the ED for foley removal unless there's complications because why?
B) If someone demanded a foley out, I would just take it out after telling them they have a high chance of not being able to pee still. not worth it to argue.

 

[Zebra Hunter]

I’m not sure that there is anything risky medicolegally to refuse a patient’s demands for something that is contraindicated. Would I remove it? Yeah, maybe, but I’ve refused to remove foleys before.

Had a guy last month show up for the 3rd time for foley removal in two weeks following 3 additional presentations for urinary retention in the same 2 week period. I told him to follow up with his godd*mn urologist (whom he was supposed to see that morning but came to me instead) and stop coming into the ER for this nonsense.

 

[BoardingDoc]

So I just had a case where I know my partner, who just came in and took over from me, thinks I'm an @$$hole. And I'm sure we've all had that time where we thought we did everything right and then some other doc looks at us like "what? I would never have done that."

Reddit has its "Am I the @$$#ole" thread. Now we do. I'll submit mine. Feel free to ask for your own AITA questions.

My partner saw a guy for urinary retention 48ish hours ago (from when the patient returned). Tossed in a foley catheter and told him to make a follow up appointment with urology "in 1-2 weeks" for removal of the foley catheter. So far so good. He also wrote in his note that he would next be working 4/15/25 at 3PM and if the patient cant get urology follow up in 1-2 weeks, to just come in (just over 48 hours later) for removal.

Well guy shows up exactly 48 hours later, at 10:30am in my shift. Hes demanding catheter removal. He openly states he didn't try to get a urology appointment, he just heard that the other doctor would remove it today and decided thats how he wanted to proceed. I tell him its way too early and hes been on abx not even 48 hours yet and, frankly, I agree that 1-2 weeks IS the appropriate timeframe for removal. I dont feel comfortable with 48 hour removal. This isn't an area where urologists are hard to get in to see, we have tons of people and they are thrilled to have voiding trials. Guy is furious. Demands his chart is deleted and he not be billed. I told him that I actually would have tried to do that but he has a started noted from me and two notes from nursing already. He left in a pissed off mood at like 10:50am. I told my partner when he came in about it and he seemed SHOCKED I wouldnt remove it. I'm almost 100% certain i caught him writing down the patient's phone number, likely to call him to tell him to come in now for removal.

AITA?

I'd have told the guy that there was a very good chance that he'd just wind up back in the ED within 12 hours in pain and needing to pee, and that despite being miserable in that moment, he might need to wait to be seen if it was busy. All of that said, if he understood all of that and still wanted it out, I'd remove it and document as such.

 

[WhatJobDoIPick]

I would have removed it. Echo everyone above about documentation.

But your partner is an idiot for recommending such a course. Reevaluation for urinary retention is not in our scope. See your urologist.

 

[Groove]

Like...the thing that would bother me about refusing to take one out is that patients can be absolutely crazy and with my luck the dude would try to force it out and lacerate his prostate and/or transect his urethra resulting in God knows what complications. You can defend that all day long as some sort of "standard of care" type thing but ultimately a dude panicking because he's got something shoved up his penis that he can't get out trying to force it out because a physician won't remove it after it was placed in the exact same ER is going to paint a very sympathetic picture for the jury. The optics would just be terrible. I would anticipate all sorts of ridiculous peer review BS and/or suit notices in the mail that it absolutely wouldn't be worth it to me to lose sleep over and I'd gladly take it out and tell the dude that he's an absolute *****. Plus, these cases are easy. It's a 50/50 chance they show up again and you just throw in another one, make the same referral and dispo.

 

[HemorrhagicShock]

I think your partner is the dingus for telling a patient to come back to the ED for such a straightforward outpatient problem

 

[GatorCHOMPions]

Like...the thing that would bother me about refusing to take one out is that patients can be absolutely crazy and with my luck the dude would try to force it out and lacerate his prostate and/or transect his urethra resulting in God knows what complications. You can defend that all day long as some sort of "standard of care" type thing but ultimately a dude panicking because he's got something shoved up his penis that he can't get out trying to force it out because a physician won't remove it after it was placed in the exact same ER is going to paint a very sympathetic picture for the jury. The optics would just be terrible. I would anticipate all sorts of ridiculous peer review BS and/or suit notices in the mail that it absolutely wouldn't be worth it to me to lose sleep over and I'd gladly take it out and tell the dude that he's an absolute *****. Plus, these cases are easy. It's a 50/50 chance they show up again and you just throw in another one, make the same referral and dispo.

I think your partner is the dingus for telling a patient to come back to the ED for such a straightforward outpatient problem

Both true and good points, agree.

 

[RustedFox]

I've run into this situation.
Old man gets Foley yesterday in ER.
Was told to make uro appointment this week.
Is now back demanding we take it out.
I try to explain why that's a bad idea.
He insists.
I take it out and say: "If you can pee, you can go home; but I'll bet you will be right back here before my shift ends telling me that you can't pee."

Failed voiding trial. Foley back in.
Shake my head at him to say: "See? I told you so, you tantrum-throwing child."

 

[GassYous]

Like...the thing that would bother me about refusing to take one out is that patients can be absolutely crazy and with my luck the dude would try to force it out and lacerate his prostate and/or transect his urethra resulting in God knows what complications. You can defend that all day long as some sort of "standard of care" type thing but ultimately a dude panicking because he's got something shoved up his penis that he can't get out trying to force it out because a physician won't remove it after it was placed in the exact same ER is going to paint a very sympathetic picture for the jury. The optics would just be terrible. I would anticipate all sorts of ridiculous peer review BS and/or suit notices in the mail that it absolutely wouldn't be worth it to me to lose sleep over and I'd gladly take it out and tell the dude that he's an absolute *****. Plus, these cases are easy. It's a 50/50 chance they show up again and you just throw in another one, make the same referral and dispo.

I had an icu patient self dc a foley and they bled so much they had to get a transfusion. But I think they were on blood thinners

 

[Apollyon]

I had an icu patient self dc a foley and they bled so much they had to get a transfusion. But I think they were on blood thinners

I recall from 30 years ago (working on the ambulance) a nursing home dude that just yanked on the Foley until it came out. His junk looked like a ball park hot dog.

 

[Janders]

Oh we get a “yanked out foley, auto-TURP” pretty often.

Usually stop bleeding quickly even on eliquis.

Usually.

 

[GassYous]

Oh we get a “yanked out foley, auto-TURP” pretty often.

Usually stop bleeding quickly even on eliquis.

Usually.

The most annoying thing was that I told the nurse to pull it in the morning after rounds and she didn't because I guess it's easier for them to manage despite the risk of infection and autoturp. I even went in with a syringe and said I would remove it myself and she physically blocked me. Then of course later in the evening when the wife comes in she blames me for the situation "why is it that every time I see you here something bad happens to him?!"

 

[JacobMcCandles]

The most annoying thing was that I told the nurse to pull it in the morning after rounds and she didn't because I guess it's easier for them to manage despite the risk of infection and autoturp. I even went in with a syringe and said I would remove it myself and she physically blocked me. Then of course later in the evening when the wife comes in she blames me for the situation "why is it that every time I see you here something bad happens to him?!"

“I was thinking the same thing about you, ma’am.”

 

[FMRESIDENT135]

nope, fairly reasonable not to pull it.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

I've actually called urology about these a couple of times, partially because they use a different EMR and I can't see upcoming visits (but previous ones still show up in Care Everywhere). They tell me not to pull unless I know how to do a void trial first and the patient generally has an appointment in the next 2-3 days. I tell the patient and offer something for bladder spasms and that's that.

 

[Birdstrike]

Hell, you don't even have to remove the foley. Just give the order, "Nurse to deflate foley balloon" and it'll remove itself. No harm is done if it stays in, no harm if it comes out. This is the battle with no fight, the crusade to make the ER be the way you think it ought to be by the sheer force or your own will.

The ED will never be the way you think it ought to be. Patients are never going to follow directions. Partners are never going to do what you think they should do. Partners are never going to react the way you think they should react. Patients are never going to stop going to the ED for things they should have seen their PCP for.

It's your Battle of Waterloo, Sisyphus rolling a boulder up a never ending hill. It's your War on Drugs, your battle against aging, the valiant fight to please everyone, all of the time.

 

[valianteffort]

AITAH?
Late night shift, both hospitalists getting slammed with real pathology admits. Drunkard (first timer) comes in. ER is packed with patients and waiting room is 10ish deep (busy for us). His alcohol comes in at 476. He has no one to take him home. Hes an dingus with poor behavior. Remote history of seizure from withdrawal. I sell an obs admission to the hospitalist for possible DTs and seizure that could occur as he is attempting to quit. I usually never admit these and obs them out and dc them but w the current ER situation I dumped it on them to obs. Hospitalist threw up a fit but was so busy himself he said ok whatever. Patient didn’t end up having anything happen, dc the next day. Hospitalist complained to med director about the admission. Didn’t feel great about what I did but I did it.

 

[Janders]

That patient needs obs somewhere. ED or upstairs, depends on availability.

I’ve heard of places where alcohol >350 = admission but haven’t worked on myself

 

[Pinner Doc]

Complaining about it is lame. The hospitalist should either admit the patient or justify why not directly to you, not tell on you the next day.

 

[DocEspana]

I've actually called urology about these a couple of times, partially because they use a different EMR and I can't see upcoming visits (but previous ones still show up in Care Everywhere). They tell me not to pull unless I know how to do a void trial first and the patient generally has an appointment in the next 2-3 days. I tell the patient and offer something for bladder spasms and that's that.

a void trial is basically just "sit in the waiting room for at least 4 hours until you feel like you need to pee" and then a bladder scan afterwards.

but its EXACTLY the sit in the waiting room for at least four hours part that I'm not okay with doing and just cutting them loose with a "this is probably going to lead to another ED visit" that feels problematic when urology has a clear protocol for how this is done.

 

[DocEspana]

AITAH?
Late night shift, both hospitalists getting slammed with real pathology admits. Drunkard (first timer) comes in. ER is packed with patients and waiting room is 10ish deep (busy for us). His alcohol comes in at 476. He has no one to take him home. Hes an dingus with poor behavior. Remote history of seizure from withdrawal. I sell an obs admission to the hospitalist for possible DTs and seizure that could occur as he is attempting to quit. I usually never admit these and obs them out and dc them but w the current ER situation I dumped it on them to obs. Hospitalist threw up a fit but was so busy himself he said ok whatever. Patient didn’t end up having anything happen, dc the next day. Hospitalist complained to med director about the admission. Didn’t feel great about what I did but I did it.

Depends on the culture of the place, but if you have any sort of time metric that would take a toll on your paycheck, then 100% NTA. If you work at a flat pay spot WITH space to just let a patient have a tincture of time (sounds like you didnt) or if you work at an academic center where what matters the most is 'doing things the right way', he could have sobered up in the ED for an eternity. But just statistically there is a >85% chance you work in someplace where throughput matters. And these drunks become the upstairs teams problem and I don't even feel bad about it. They're pissed because it was a hard day, but it doesn't change that it would have been a fine obs dispo on a slow day and should be a valid obs dispo on a busy day.

Complaining to the boss after the fact is a pattern in hospitalists that I hate. My buddy and I were just talking about this at lunch yesterday.

 

[WhatJobDoIPick]

AITAH?
Late night shift, both hospitalists getting slammed with real pathology admits. Drunkard (first timer) comes in. ER is packed with patients and waiting room is 10ish deep (busy for us). His alcohol comes in at 476. He has no one to take him home. Hes an dingus with poor behavior. Remote history of seizure from withdrawal. I sell an obs admission to the hospitalist for possible DTs and seizure that could occur as he is attempting to quit. I usually never admit these and obs them out and dc them but w the current ER situation I dumped it on them to obs. Hospitalist threw up a fit but was so busy himself he said ok whatever. Patient didn’t end up having anything happen, dc the next day. Hospitalist complained to med director about the admission. Didn’t feel great about what I did but I did it.

I work in places where health literacy is so poor, heavy immigrant and non English speaking population, and extremely awful access to primary care...I find any reason at all to admit when things are even whiffing of sketch. It's not worth my liability and not worth my time (and thus money) to spend hours trying to figure out safe and feasible outpatient plans for these patients.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

a void trial is basically just "sit in the waiting room for at least 4 hours until you feel like you need to pee" and then a bladder scan afterwards.

but its EXACTLY the sit in the waiting room for at least four hours part that I'm not okay with doing and just cutting them loose with a "this is probably going to lead to another ED visit" that feels problematic when urology has a clear protocol for how this is done.

I thought they instill saline with the catheter still in etc

 

[DocEspana]

I thought they instill saline with the catheter still in etc

Idk if that's the "right" way to do it, it might be, but when I was a med student I wanted to do urology and did a bunch of rotations there and remember at that time there was a debate as to how to best go about these. What I've seen more often nowadays is just that they have all the trial patients be the first patients of the day and have the nurse remove everyone's Foley and just have them occupy the waiting room until they spontaneously void. The argument against just putting saline in and seeing what happens is that essentially everyone passes that voiding trial since the prostate is still somewhat artificially dilated from the catheter just being there.

But I was a med student a while ago so who knows what's changed in a decade.


Edit: unless you're talking about urodynamics, which is a whole different animal.

 

[Tiger26]

That patient needs obs somewhere. ED or upstairs, depends on availability.

I’ve heard of places where alcohol >350 = admission but haven’t worked on myself

Working in a state with 12 of the 20 drunkest cities in the country (WI), <350 is pretty unremarkable for us and they usually go home (or wherever) when walkie talkie. Had a .720 a few months ago who got admitted though

 

[Apollyon]

Working in a state with 12 of the 20 drunkest cities in the country (WI), <350 is pretty unremarkable for us and they usually go home (or wherever) when walkie talkie. Had a .720 a few months ago who got admitted though

720?? That's Ukraine-worthy!! That is not f'n around!!

 

[DocEspana]

Working in a state with 12 of the 20 drunkest cities in the country (WI), <350 is pretty unremarkable for us and they usually go home (or wherever) when walkie talkie. Had a .720 a few months ago who got admitted though

New York City crusty homeless would crack .500 pretty regularly. But I don't think I've ever seen a 600 (maybe I have?) and I know I've never seen a 700. That's amazing dedication to the craft

 

[Tiger26]

New York City crusty homeless would crack .500 pretty regularly. But I don't think I've ever seen a 600 (maybe I have?) and I know I've never seen a 700. That's amazing dedication to the craft

At one point, a few visits before mine, she was brought in with a mid .600 range after downing vanilla extract bottles from a local grocery store

 

[BoardingDoc]

At one point, a few visits before mine, she was brought in with a mid .600 range after downing vanilla extract bottles from a local grocery store

I had a guy like that during residency. I didn't mind taking care of him at all. Unlike a lot of the chronic drunks, he didn't smell terrible. He always smelled vaguely of cookies and other baked treats.

 

[eyeeye_captain]

I had a guy like that during residency. I didn't mind taking care of him at all. Unlike a lot of the chronic drunks, he didn't smell terrible. He always smelled vaguely of cookies and other baked treats.

That sounds surprisingly pleasant. Would’ve been a nice break from the 400+ folks with their punch/bottle/pistol whip who I had to be well within arms’ length of to open the eyes. I’d take that over SUPERdrunk breath any day. I don’t even have a good sense of smell and I’d get practically knocked over.

 

[JacobMcCandles]

a void trial is basically just "sit in the waiting room for at least 4 hours until you feel like you need to pee" and then a bladder scan afterwards.

but its EXACTLY the sit in the waiting room for at least four hours part that I'm not okay with doing and just cutting them loose with a "this is probably going to lead to another ED visit" that feels problematic when urology has a clear protocol for how this is done.

It’s like most other things in the ED, just document your discussion. Patient wants the Foley out? I wouldn’t recommend it but, if after discussion, you want it out…sure. You don’t want to wait hours for a voiding trial? I wouldn’t recommend it but, if after discussion, you want to go home…sure. Honestly, these patients are easy and your time and brain power are better spent elsewhere.

 

[CoolDoc1729]

Years ago ambulance brought two together because it was deemed neither of them would be safe to leave alone.. found together on a busy street corner with~15 empty fifths strewn about … one was 0.72 and one was 0.81 .. the 81 got an ETT and they were both admitted without pushback lol

 

[HoosierdaddyO]

Ok hijacking the thread briefly lol…
AITA:

Last week there was a full potluck, nurses doctors techs everyone. I worked the evening shift and at the end of my shift at night I saw a leftover untouched, untagged apple pie sitting in the back of the fridge.

I come in the next day for my shift and still the apple pie is sitting there untouched, untagged… sorta just staring at me but I let it go because I didn’t want to be that guy.

Come in the following day and the apple pie is still sitting there… at this point I’m like who the heck leaves an apple pie in the break room fridge for 3 days after a potluck so I help myself to a healthy serving lol.

Come to find out it was left over from the potluck for a specific nurse. Obviously I feel bad but AITA for eating a left over pie that’s been in the fridge for 3 days after a potluck? Please don’t hold back lol??

 

[Apollyon]

3 days, it was on the verge of becoming moldy. And, no name on it? NTA. You did a service. No one could even put plastic over it?

 

[HemorrhagicShock]

Ok hijacking the thread briefly lol…
AITA:

Last week there was a full potluck, nurses doctors techs everyone. I worked the evening shift and at the end of my shift at night I saw a leftover untouched, untagged apple pie sitting in the back of the fridge.

I come in the next day for my shift and still the apple pie is sitting there untouched, untagged… sorta just staring at me but I let it go because I didn’t want to be that guy.

Come in the following day and the apple pie is still sitting there… at this point I’m like who the heck leaves an apple pie in the break room fridge for 3 days after a potluck so I help myself to a healthy serving lol.

Come to find out it was left over from the potluck for a specific nurse. Obviously I feel bad but AITA for eating a left over pie that’s been in the fridge for 3 days after a potluck? Please don’t hold back lol??

NTA. No question. I would defend this to the death.

 

[xaelia]

Ok hijacking the thread briefly lol…
AITA:

Last week there was a full potluck, nurses doctors techs everyone. I worked the evening shift and at the end of my shift at night I saw a leftover untouched, untagged apple pie sitting in the back of the fridge.

I come in the next day for my shift and still the apple pie is sitting there untouched, untagged… sorta just staring at me but I let it go because I didn’t want to be that guy.

Come in the following day and the apple pie is still sitting there… at this point I’m like who the heck leaves an apple pie in the break room fridge for 3 days after a potluck so I help myself to a healthy serving lol.

Come to find out it was left over from the potluck for a specific nurse. Obviously I feel bad but AITA for eating a left over pie that’s been in the fridge for 3 days after a potluck? Please don’t hold back lol??

No label no foul.

 

[eyeeye_captain]

Ok hijacking the thread briefly lol…
AITA:

Last week there was a full potluck, nurses doctors techs everyone. I worked the evening shift and at the end of my shift at night I saw a leftover untouched, untagged apple pie sitting in the back of the fridge.

I come in the next day for my shift and still the apple pie is sitting there untouched, untagged… sorta just staring at me but I let it go because I didn’t want to be that guy.

Come in the following day and the apple pie is still sitting there… at this point I’m like who the heck leaves an apple pie in the break room fridge for 3 days after a potluck so I help myself to a healthy serving lol.

Come to find out it was left over from the potluck for a specific nurse. Obviously I feel bad but AITA for eating a left over pie that’s been in the fridge for 3 days after a potluck? Please don’t hold back lol??

Somewhere a clipboard nurse is quietly applauding your actions for the clean fridge. The rare time when even they agree you’re NTA

 

[JacobMcCandles]

Ok hijacking the thread briefly lol…
AITA:

Last week there was a full potluck, nurses doctors techs everyone. I worked the evening shift and at the end of my shift at night I saw a leftover untouched, untagged apple pie sitting in the back of the fridge.

I come in the next day for my shift and still the apple pie is sitting there untouched, untagged… sorta just staring at me but I let it go because I didn’t want to be that guy.

Come in the following day and the apple pie is still sitting there… at this point I’m like who the heck leaves an apple pie in the break room fridge for 3 days after a potluck so I help myself to a healthy serving lol.

Come to find out it was left over from the potluck for a specific nurse. Obviously I feel bad but AITA for eating a left over pie that’s been in the fridge for 3 days after a potluck? Please don’t hold back lol??

I feel like common courtesy in the office environment is to not eat anything unless it’s got your name on it. No label doesn’t mean it’s a free for all unless someone specifically tells you.

 

[HoosierdaddyO]

issue

I feel like common courtesy in the office environment is to not eat anything unless it’s got your name on it. No label doesn’t mean it’s a free for all unless someone specifically tells you.

I don’t disagree, but it was there from the time that an entire dept potluck was taking place. One would assume it’s leftover from the potluck… no?

It’s not like someone brought a pie on a random day and left it in the fridge… I don’t know, maybe you’re right lol.

 

[valianteffort]

Ok hijacking the thread briefly lol…
AITA:

Last week there was a full potluck, nurses doctors techs everyone. I worked the evening shift and at the end of my shift at night I saw a leftover untouched, untagged apple pie sitting in the back of the fridge.

I come in the next day for my shift and still the apple pie is sitting there untouched, untagged… sorta just staring at me but I let it go because I didn’t want to be that guy.

Come in the following day and the apple pie is still sitting there… at this point I’m like who the heck leaves an apple pie in the break room fridge for 3 days after a potluck so I help myself to a healthy serving lol.

Come to find out it was left over from the potluck for a specific nurse. Obviously I feel bad but AITA for eating a left over pie that’s been in the fridge for 3 days after a potluck? Please don’t hold back lol??

Did some brief research to make sure my answer was supported by factual evidence.

'An apple pie can typically stay good in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. However, for optimal quality and texture, it's best to enjoy it within 2-3 days, as the crust may become soggy after a longer period in the fridge'

You enjoyed it at peak texture and optimal quality, meanwhile sparing *insert RN here* from a soggy crust and poor texture. You did a service to the community at large and should hold your chin up high.

 

[dpmd]

issue
I don’t disagree, but it was there from the time that an entire dept potluck was taking place. One would assume it’s leftover from the potluck… no?

It’s not like someone brought a pie on a random day and left it in the fridge… I don’t know, maybe you’re right lol.

I'm with you on this one. If a pie is meant for a specific person during a potluck it needs to be labeled with their name. Any other time I might agree that you shouldn't touch it but honestly after three damn days and you didn't eat the whole thing I think you are fine. That said, if you didn't contribute anything for the potluck then you are still a bit of an dingus (the degree being dependent on if you had foreknowledge about the potluck or not and whether you had a specific invitation to eat from the people who arranged the potluck).

 

[RustedFox]

I'm with you on this one. If a pie is meant for a specific person during a potluck it needs to be labeled with their name. Any other time I might agree that you shouldn't touch it but honestly after three damn days and you didn't eat the whole thing I think you are fine. That said, if you didn't contribute anything for the potluck then you are still a bit of an dingus (the degree being dependent on if you had foreknowledge about the potluck or not and whether you had a specific invitation to eat from the people who arranged the potluck).

The discussion regarding pie etiquette is more useful than most other discussion on this forum actually related to the medicine.

Someone post something academic, please.