Experience with a patient in Personal Statement?

[RealHumanBean1]

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Hi everyone.

I'm currently a PCT working in the ER and have had several eye-opening experiences while working this job - but one in particular was especially affecting and I'm curious to see if you all think it would be appropriate to discuss in my personal statement.

In short, we had a patient pass away suddenly in the ER and, for several reasons that I won't delve into, I felt it gave me real insight into the enormous responsibility we will bear as future physicians upon entering medical school. I feel that writing about this experience would most genuinely and effectively express my feelings towards and motivations for pursuing medicine, but am afraid that it could be looked upon unfavorably for a few different reasons.

1. First and foremost, I'm afraid that even a general discussion of a patient's situation would violate patient privacy laws.
2. I'm also afraid that admissions committees might interpret the discussion of such an emotional event as a ploy to "hold their feelings hostage". There was a great bit of advice from @braluk saying, "If you discuss a significant emotional experience, frame it by discussing its significance to you, its effects, your methods of coping, moving on and becoming stronger because of it." I'm wondering if you all thing this would be an effective strategy or if you think I might be too far removed from the situation (in that I'm not a close friend or family member) for my intentions to be interpreted as genuine.

Thank you in advance for the help.

 

[Imperius]

1. Simply writing about a patient's situation without personal patient details is not violating privacy laws.

2. Engaging a reader on an emotional level makes for effective writing. Discuss how the experience shaped your view towards becoming a physician and/or of the profession in general. If you truly are writing from a meaningful experience without going over-the-top on touchy-feely aspects of the situation, you won't come across as disingenuine.

 

[Goro]

Very common essay fodder, and perfectly OK.

Hi everyone.

I'm currently a PCT working in the ER and have had several eye-opening experiences while working this job - but one in particular was especially affecting and I'm curious to see if you all think it would be appropriate to discuss in my personal statement.

In short, we had a patient pass away suddenly in the ER and, for several reasons that I won't delve into, I felt it gave me real insight into the enormous responsibility we will bear as future physicians upon entering medical school. I feel that writing about this experience would most genuinely and effectively express my feelings towards and motivations for pursuing medicine, but am afraid that it could be looked upon unfavorably for a few different reasons.

1. First and foremost, I'm afraid that even a general discussion of a patient's situation would violate patient privacy laws.
2. I'm also afraid that admissions committees might interpret the discussion of such an emotional event as a ploy to "hold their feelings hostage". There was a great bit of advice from @braluk saying, "If you discuss a significant emotional experience, frame it by discussing its significance to you, its effects, your methods of coping, moving on and becoming stronger because of it." I'm wondering if you all thing this would be an effective strategy or if you think I might be too far removed from the situation (in that I'm not a close friend or family member) for my intentions to be interpreted as genuine.

Thank you in advance for the help.