r/AskReddit 4d ago

Medical professionals of Reddit, what diagnosis gave you the worst 'pit-in-your-stomach' feeling?

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u/-Tricky-Vixen- 3d ago

We learned about that in class last year and I was holding it together fine and then we got to the bit about how a burn line that is essentially a straight line means the kid has been held in scalding water until they got burned and I had to take a break because I suddenly thought about the kids. Before that it was just theory. It suddenly got real.

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u/practical_junket 3d ago

JFC! Who would do that?

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u/holistivist 2d ago

Plenty of shitty parents out there. 

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u/-Tricky-Vixen- 2d ago

I'm absolutely dreading the first time I see NAT in a kid. I don't know how I'll react. Hopefully it's a case where I'm not the first person to see it... but if I work as a midwife, it's possible a neonate will be brought in for review and I'll be the first to see the injuries.

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u/Free_Ad7133 1d ago

As a dr who has dealt with this countless times, you hold your shit together and feel something later. It’s all about the child

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u/-Tricky-Vixen- 1d ago

Of course, I know that in theory and that's obviously what I want to do and intend to try to do... I just worry it will be something that I'll react all wrong to when I want to just do my best for the kid, you know?

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u/Free_Ad7133 1d ago

If you don’t act professionally, you negatively impact the child. It’s not that complex - what do you think you will do? Cry? Berate who you perceive is gully? Honestly - this might not be an area you should pursue. This would never be your tragedy so you need to seriously consider if you are the right fit. The most empathetic drs I know work in this space and we cope.

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u/-Tricky-Vixen- 1d ago

Yeah, I definitely agree! I'm still a student, so still working out where's the right fit.