Interesting thoughts about Taboo Jobs

[Poety]

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Hey guys.

I was perusing and one of the pathologists wrote about how he has to look at the aborted fetus' that are sent to his lab. He had also wrote about how sometimes they had expressions on their face and how he felt like he had PTSD from it sometimes.

I'm wondering what you all might think about the impact of seeing that. I responded to him in the path forum just because I know personally, I'd go nuts. How DO people deal with something that traumatic on a daily basis? Do we all have built in defense mechanisms? What about this poor guy that really doesn't like seeing this - what about the effect on him?

I'm just wondering what your thoughts are about people that have to do jobs that would be considered taboo in our culture. I mean think about it, theres also the ME and those people that clean up after violent crime scenes - how do they get through each day?

 

[Anasazi23]

Unfortunately, I think we get numb after time.

I remember in medical school...dissecting the cadavers for the first few days and weeks. I'll never forget "uncovering" my cadaver for the first time, and how we had a moment of silence for those that donated their bodies.

Some people never could handle the lab well....and a few passed out - usually during those super-stressful practical exams.

By the end of the year, we were tired and hungry, and most of us were eating devil dogs and ham & cheese sandwiches while we dissected, or at least stood next to the tank and munched on pretzels or studied for another test altogether.

Fortunately and in some instances unfortunately, you become desensitized. The shock value gradually subsides.

You just....adapt.

 

[Solideliquid]

Hey guys.

I was perusing and one of the pathologists wrote about how he has to look at the aborted fetus' that are sent to his lab. He had also wrote about how sometimes they had expressions on their face and how he felt like he had PTSD from it sometimes.

I'm wondering what you all might think about the impact of seeing that. I responded to him in the path forum just because I know personally, I'd go nuts. How DO people deal with something that traumatic on a daily basis? Do we all have built in defense mechanisms? What about this poor guy that really doesn't like seeing this - what about the effect on him?

I'm just wondering what your thoughts are about people that have to do jobs that would be considered taboo in our culture. I mean think about it, theres also the ME and those people that clean up after violent crime scenes - how do they get through each day?

I did a pathology elective (one of my last) and one day we got a fetus from an ectopic pregnancy. It was really bad, it had fingers and everything, and a little mouth. It was bad enough, if it had some sort of facial expression I don't know how I would have felt... 😱

 

[Triathlon]

Fetus', or feti ?? would be bad but I personally would have a hard time with young children. Maybe because I have kids, although I guess I had a fetus too. Anyway I don't know nevermind. Desensitization must occur but also situational factors play a big role. An eviscerated person on the side of the road would be a whole lot more traumatic than a colon resection surgical procedure. Or think about the trauma of the rectal exam...what if your neighbor stopped by and asked if you would quick and take a look at his internal hemorrhoids there in the garage while you're unloading your groceries. 😱
I know my analogies are out there sometimes. By the way our first child was born three months early (2lbs) hence the fetus comment. He's five now 😀

 

[Poety]

I think thats what he was talking about, the fetus'/feti (I have no idea which it is!) and he posted on how some of them were older, like late TAB, 6-7 mos, and he wrote about how it seemed like they kenw it was coming. Im pretty sure this guy has been a resident for a while or is a new attending - so he doesn't seem too numb yet.

Personally, I couldn't have done trauma since I get squeamish when people's legs or fingers or whatever aren't where they're suppoed to be and they're awake screaming about it - the empathy on my part is too great, and I want to pass out 😳

eta: thread link: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=281639 guy doesn't seem too adjusted to it j- and I really can't blame him. I see the defense going on in some others though which I understand completely.

 

[Psyclops]

I wanted to tackle the fetuses/feti question. In American Englsih it is fetuses, in British it can be Foetuses or Foeti. I would imagine that to be fully correct you would have to use feti, becaus it is a Latin not Greek word. Words with Latin roots pluralize with a noun, Greek words pluralize with s. For example, the plural of syllabus is syllabuses as opposed to syllabi, becaue it has a Greek root. I realize this is off topic.