SARS: "I'm Dirty"

Earlier I posted a message from a friend who is a front-line medical worker in the fight against SARS.

He sent another note I feel compelled to share:

Thanks for sincere concerns over these few weeks. I'm "dirty" and I'm not allowed to work in other wards except 3A in my hospital. I have had close contact with a patient [name withheld] for more than 10 days. She was now highly suspected with SARS and transferred to Prince of Wales Hospital this morning. Four patients in contact with her in ward 3A are put on surveillance in two separate side wards for the following 10 days. I used to work in ward 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D and 5C, and now someone will take my job there. I expect I will not be busy for a while, but I have to observe myself really closely then.

[Name withheld] was transferred from ward 1A of Tai Po Hospital 12 days ago, and was put in a semi-isolation cubicle with two other transferred patients. Around four days ago, she started to have irregular pattern of fever with sign of decreasing White Blood Cell count. Yesterday, she was cared in a side-ward with "High Risk Precaution". I went it in full PPE (personal protective equipment) for half an hour along with her during my treatment. This morning, she was seen by two consultants and was put on "Ultra High Risk".

Immediately, every single staff in 3A was thrilled and put on full gear and got ready for transferring her out to PWH. Along from ward 1A of TPH was a female psychiatric patient. She was in ward 5A, and transferred out to PWH last night of suspicion of SARS. Both these two patients were from the same ward of TPH. We were told that there was a sudden death of a patient yesterday from ? SARS and a few patients and staff are having fever in this ward. We had to identify and trace all personnel in direct or passive contact with these patients, then re-allocate work process and manpower to avoid cross-infection.

I must say there are chances of human error as working in hospital involves so many disciplines, as well as arguments. There are evenings that I know I should return home as quickly as possible to avoid contacting family and friends. Take care, you and me.

He faces this every day, which is why he's under so much stress.

This is a bone of contention. I've read and heard occasional comments deriding medical staff for being so highly regarded by the media and Hong Kong citizens.

If you're one of the critics, keep your damned mouth shut; you're in no position to cast aspersions.

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