NINETY NINE

Recently I went to another ward to see a patient who was referred to Oncology. When I arrived, the patient (an 80 over year old Chinese aunty who speaks only Cantonese) was being examined by a medical student, in the presence of 2 other medical students & their clinical tutor.

Medical student: (listening to patient's chest) Aunty, breath in & out...

Patient: (staring blankly at medical student, obviously not following the command)

Medical student: Aunty, say 99

Patient: (same as above)

Medical student: Aunty! Say 99

Patient: (still same as above)

Medical student: (shaking her head & turning to clinical tutor) Patient not co-operative