A nurse in an inpatient setting was caring for a patient (we will call him Mr. Smith) who was dying. The family was with the patient when his breathing began to slow down, eventually stopping. A family member walked over to the nurses station and informed the nurse that the patient had passed away. Protocol is to inform the covering physician of the death so that he can officially state the time of death and assess the patient. In this case, the doctor was informed of the death via a phone call.
Nurse:"Hello Doctor. Mr. Smith in room 604 has just passed away."
Doctor:"Ok."
Nurse: "Doctor, you need to come and pronounce him."
Doctor:"What?"
Nurse:"You know, pronounce the patient's death and time of death."
Doctor: "What do I pronounce him as?"
Nurse:"You pronounce him dead. Can you just come and see the patient please?"
Doctor:" Why, if he is already dead?"
Nurse:"Get over here and see the patient."
Click. Hung up the phone.
About five minutes later, the doctor in question (or you could say the questionable doctor), arrived onto the floor as politely requested. He asks where the patient is, walks into the room, and says:
"I now pronounce you dead."
In front of the family.
Doctor:"Ok."
Nurse: "Doctor, you need to come and pronounce him."
Doctor:"What?"
Nurse:"You know, pronounce the patient's death and time of death."
Doctor: "What do I pronounce him as?"
Nurse:"You pronounce him dead. Can you just come and see the patient please?"
Doctor:" Why, if he is already dead?"
Nurse:"Get over here and see the patient."
Click. Hung up the phone.
About five minutes later, the doctor in question (or you could say the questionable doctor), arrived onto the floor as politely requested. He asks where the patient is, walks into the room, and says:
"I now pronounce you dead."
In front of the family.
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